Editorial

Abstract

After the merger of the International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics and Mechanics of Cohesive-frictional Materials in 2000, the combined journal has flourished under the joint editorship of Félix Darve, René de Borst, Stein Sture and Andrew Whittle for more than 10 years. Indeed, the journal has benefited from this continuity and holds an excellent reputation for the high quality of its published papers, with a current ISI impact factor of 1.167, one of the highest in the field. Inasmuch as continuity is important, so is change. Recently, the aims and scope of the journal have been revised to further emphasize our commitment to quality and research that opens new frontiers, rather than incremental updates of existing methods, that nowadays flood the scientific literature. As a further step, we have expanded the team of editors. We are very pleased to welcome Gilles Pijaudier-Cabot and Ronaldo Borja as new editors. Given the excellence of their research accomplishments, we are convinced that they will contribute to further quality improvement of the journal in the years to come. However, 2012 will also mark the farewell of Stein Sture as editor of the journal. First, as the US editor of Mechanics of Cohesive-frictional Materials, and subsequently as editor of the combined journal, he has put much work into his editorial duties in spite of heavy administrative commitments at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has greatly contributed to the visibility and reputation of the journal, showing an unwavering loyalty, and has contributed highly to the excellent spirit of cooperation within the editorial team. We will miss Stein, but agree with his parting sentiment that, with the timely arrival of Gilles and Ronaldo, the journal remains in good hands, with a bright future.