Wear (journal)

Wear (journal). *Wear* is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that serves as a premier international forum for the publication of original research on the science and technology of friction, lubrication, and wear. Established in 1957, it is published by Elsevier and covers fundamental and applied aspects of tribology, materials science, and surface engineering. The journal is recognized for its high-impact contributions to understanding material degradation processes in mechanical systems, from nanotechnology applications to large-scale industrial machinery.

History and background

The journal was founded in 1957, emerging during a period of significant industrial and scientific focus on the durability and reliability of mechanical components. Its establishment coincided with growing recognition of tribology as a critical interdisciplinary field, following foundational work by researchers like David Tabor and the later formalization of the discipline by the Jost Report in the United Kingdom. Early volumes of *Wear* featured pioneering studies on abrasive wear, adhesive wear, and contact mechanics, contributing to the foundational knowledge that would support advancements in sectors such as the automotive industry, aerospace engineering, and manufacturing. Over the decades, it has chronicled the evolution of the field from empirical observations to sophisticated analyses involving scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and computational modeling.

Scope and publication details

The scope of *Wear* encompasses experimental, theoretical, and computational research on all phenomena related to surface interactions and material loss. Key topics include, but are not limited to, fretting wear, erosive wear, corrosive wear, surface coatings, lubricants, biomedical implants, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and condition monitoring. It publishes original research articles, review papers, short communications, and letters. The journal is published by Elsevier with a high frequency of 24 issues per year, utilizing a hybrid open access publishing model. Editorial operations are managed through the Elsevier Editorial System, facilitating peer review by experts from institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, and Kyoto University.

Abstracting and indexing

*Wear* is abstracted and indexed in a comprehensive array of major scientific databases, ensuring wide dissemination of its content. These services include the Science Citation Index Expanded, Scopus, PubMed, INSPEC, Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), and Compendex. Its inclusion in the Web of Science and the Journal Citation Reports allows for the calculation of its annual Impact Factor, a key metric of its influence in the field. The journal's articles are also accessible through platforms such as Google Scholar and ScienceDirect, the digital repository of Elsevier.

Impact and recognition

The journal maintains a significant position within the global tribology community, reflected by its consistent Impact Factor, which was 2.594 for the 2022 citation year according to Journal Citation Reports. It is regarded as a top-tier publication venue where seminal studies on topics like third body layers, nanotribology, and wear mapping have been first presented. The research published in *Wear* often informs international standards and practices developed by organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE). Its long-standing reputation attracts submissions from leading research groups worldwide, including those affiliated with NASA, the Fraunhofer Society, and Tsukuba Research Center.

Editorial board and governance

The journal is overseen by an international editorial board comprising distinguished scientists and engineers from academia and industry. The Editor-in-Chief is J. Paulo Davim of the University of Aveiro. The board includes noted experts such as Michelle L. Oyen from the University of Cambridge, Ali Erdemir of the Argonne National Laboratory, and Kazuhisa Miyoshi from NASA Glenn Research Center. This governance structure ensures rigorous peer review and maintains the journal's alignment with cutting-edge developments across the multidisciplinary domains of surface science, mechanical engineering, and materials chemistry. The board members are actively involved in major conferences like those organized by the World Tribology Congress and the International Conference on Wear of Materials.