diff --git a/joss/paper.bib b/joss/paper.bib
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..de7df10bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/joss/paper.bib
@@ -0,0 +1,380 @@
+@article{vocialta_3d_2016,
+	title = {{3D} dynamic fragmentation with parallel dynamic insertion of cohesive elements},
+	issn = {1097-0207},
+	url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/nme.5339/abstract},
+	doi = {10.1002/nme.5339},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2016-08-02},
+	journal = {International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering},
+	author = {Vocialta, M. and Richart, N. and Molinari, J.f.},
+	month = jan,
+	year = {2016},
+	keywords = {Cohesive elements, Dynamic fragmentation, high performance computing, numerical instability},
+	pages = {n/a--n/a},
+}
+
+@article{taheri_mousavi_dynamic_2015,
+	title = {Dynamic crack propagation in a heterogeneous ceramic microstructure, insights from a cohesive model},
+	volume = {88},
+	issn = {13596454},
+	url = {http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1359645415000075},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.actamat.2015.01.003},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2015-09-14},
+	journal = {Acta Materialia},
+	author = {Taheri Mousavi, S.M. and Richart, N. and Wolff, C. and Molinari, J.F.},
+	month = apr,
+	year = {2015},
+	pages = {136--146},
+}
+
+@article{richart_implementation_2015,
+	title = {Implementation of a parallel finite-element library: {Test} case on a non-local continuum damage model},
+	volume = {100},
+	issn = {0168-874X},
+	shorttitle = {Implementation of a parallel finite-element library},
+	url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168874X15000153},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.finel.2015.02.003},
+	urldate = {2015-04-29},
+	journal = {Finite Elements in Analysis and Design},
+	author = {Richart, N. and Molinari, J. F.},
+	month = aug,
+	year = {2015},
+	keywords = {Continuum damage, Finite element method, non-local approach, Parallel computing},
+	pages = {41--46},
+}
+
+@article{wolff_non-local_2014,
+	title = {A non-local continuum damage approach to model dynamic crack branching},
+	copyright = {Copyright © 2014 John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd.},
+	issn = {1097-0207},
+	url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/nme.4837/abstract},
+	doi = {10.1002/nme.4837},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2015-02-02},
+	journal = {International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering},
+	author = {Wolff, Cyprien and Richart, Nicolas and Molinari, Jean-François},
+	year = {2014},
+	keywords = {brittle failure, continuum damage model, dynamic crack branching, finite-element method, non-local approach, PMMA},
+	pages = {n/a--n/a},
+}
+
+@article{brun_hybrid_2021,
+	title = {Hybrid asynchronous {SEM}/{FEM} co-simulation for seismic nonlinear analysis of concrete gravity dams},
+	volume = {245},
+	issn = {0045-7949},
+	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045794920302625},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.compstruc.2020.106459},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {Computers \& Structures},
+	author = {Brun, Michael and De Martin, Florent and Richart, Nicolas},
+	month = mar,
+	year = {2021},
+	keywords = {Domain decomposition, Elastic wave, Hybrid asynchronous time integrator, Nonlinear transient analysis, SEM/FEM co-simulation, Soil structure interaction},
+	pages = {106459},
+}
+
+@article{zhang_numerical_2018,
+	title = {Numerical evaluation of test setups for determining the shear strength of masonry},
+	volume = {51},
+	issn = {1871-6873},
+	url = {https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-018-1236-6},
+	doi = {10.1617/s11527-018-1236-6},
+	language = {en},
+	number = {4},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {Materials and Structures},
+	author = {Zhang, Shenghan and Richart, Nicolas and Beyer, Katrin},
+	month = aug,
+	year = {2018},
+	pages = {110},
+}
+
+@article{zhang_micro-mechanical_2017,
+	title = {Micro-mechanical finite element modeling of diagonal compression test for historical stone masonry structure},
+	volume = {112},
+	issn = {0020-7683},
+	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020768317300690},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2017.02.014},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {International Journal of Solids and Structures},
+	author = {Zhang, Shenghan and Taheri Mousavi, Seyedeh Mohadeseh and Richart, Nicolas and Molinari, Jean-François and Beyer, Katrin},
+	month = may,
+	year = {2017},
+	keywords = {Cohesive zone modeling, Diagonal compression test, Failure mechanism, Meso-scale simulation, Stone masonry},
+	pages = {122--132},
+}
+
+@article{gallyamov_multi-scale_2020,
+	title = {Multi-scale modelling of concrete structures affected by alkali-silica reaction: {Coupling} the mesoscopic damage evolution and the macroscopic concrete deterioration},
+	volume = {207},
+	issn = {0020-7683},
+	shorttitle = {Multi-scale modelling of concrete structures affected by alkali-silica reaction},
+	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020768320303942},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2020.10.010},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {International Journal of Solids and Structures},
+	author = {Gallyamov, E. R. and Cuba Ramos, A. I. and Corrado, M. and Rezakhani, R. and Molinari, J. -F.},
+	month = dec,
+	year = {2020},
+	keywords = {Alkali-silica reaction, Damage model, FE, High performance computing},
+	pages = {262--278},
+}
+
+@article{zhang_numerical_2019,
+	title = {Numerical investigation of the role of masonry typology on shear strength},
+	volume = {192},
+	issn = {0141-0296},
+	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141029618321515},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.04.026},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {Engineering Structures},
+	author = {Zhang, Shenghan and Beyer, Katrin},
+	month = aug,
+	year = {2019},
+	keywords = {Block area ratio, Detailed micro-modeling, Force capacity, Historical masonry, Line of minimum trace, Stone pattern},
+	pages = {86--102},
+}
+
+@article{yilmaz_mesoscale_2017,
+	title = {A mesoscale fracture model for concrete},
+	volume = {97},
+	issn = {0008-8846},
+	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008884616305828},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.03.014},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {Cement and Concrete Research},
+	author = {Yılmaz, Okan and Molinari, Jean-François},
+	month = jul,
+	year = {2017},
+	keywords = {Cohesive zone, Dynamic failure, Finite-element method, Mesostructure},
+	pages = {84--94},
+}
+
+@article{vocialta_numerical_2018,
+	title = {Numerical analysis of fragmentation in tempered glass with parallel dynamic insertion of cohesive elements},
+	volume = {188},
+	issn = {0013-7944},
+	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001379441630577X},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.engfracmech.2017.09.015},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {Engineering Fracture Mechanics},
+	author = {Vocialta, M. and Corrado, M. and Molinari, J. -F.},
+	month = feb,
+	year = {2018},
+	keywords = {Cohesive elements, Dynamic fragmentation, Finite-element method, High performance computing, Thermally tempered glass},
+	pages = {448--469},
+}
+
+@article{corrado_effects_2016,
+	title = {Effects of residual stresses on the tensile fatigue behavior of concrete},
+	volume = {89},
+	issn = {0008-8846},
+	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008884616301946},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.cemconres.2016.08.014},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {Cement and Concrete Research},
+	author = {Corrado, M. and Molinari, J. -F.},
+	month = nov,
+	year = {2016},
+	keywords = {Cohesive elements, Concrete, Fatigue behavior, Mesoscale FEM, Residual stresses},
+	pages = {206--219},
+}
+
+@article{albertini_three-dimensional_nodate,
+	title = {A three-dimensional hybrid finite element — spectral boundary integral method for modeling earthquakes in complex unbounded domains},
+	volume = {n/a},
+	issn = {1097-0207},
+	url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/nme.6816},
+	doi = {10.1002/nme.6816},
+	language = {en},
+	number = {n/a},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering},
+	author = {Albertini, Gabriele and Elbanna, Ahmed E. and Kammer, David S.},
+	note = {\_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/nme.6816},
+	keywords = {dynamic fracture, earthquake modeling, finite element method, hybrid method, spectral boundary integral method},
+}
+
+@article{cuba_ramos_hpc_2018,
+	title = {{HPC} simulations of alkali-silica reaction-induced damage: {Influence} of alkali-silica gel properties},
+	volume = {109},
+	issn = {0008-8846},
+	shorttitle = {{HPC} simulations of alkali-silica reaction-induced damage},
+	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000888461731150X},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.03.020},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {Cement and Concrete Research},
+	author = {Cuba Ramos, Aurelia I. and Roux-Langlois, Clément and Dunant, Cyrille F. and Corrado, Mauro and Molinari, Jean-François},
+	month = jul,
+	year = {2018},
+	keywords = {Alkali-silica-reaction, GFEM/XFEM, High-performance computing, Sequentially linear analysis},
+	pages = {90--102},
+}
+
+@article{rezakhani_meso-scale_2021,
+	title = {Meso-scale finite element modeling of {Alkali}-{Silica}-{Reaction}},
+	volume = {278},
+	issn = {0950-0618},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122244},
+	language = {English},
+	journal = {Construction and Building Materials},
+	author = {Rezakhani, R. and Gallyamov, E. and Molinari, J.F.},
+	year = {2021},
+	keywords = {Alkali-Silica-Reaction, Damage, Finite-element method, Meso-scale},
+}
+
+@article{yilmaz_damage_2017,
+	title = {Damage cluster distributions in numerical concrete at the mesoscale},
+	issn = {1095-3787},
+	doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.95.043002},
+	journal = {Physical Review E},
+	editor = {Yilmaz, Okan and Derlet, Peter Michael and Molinari, Jean-François},
+	year = {2017},
+	note = {Num Pages: 12
+Place: College Pk
+Publisher: Amer Physical Soc},
+}
+
+@article{radiguet_role_2015,
+	series = {Materials and {Interfaces}},
+	title = {The role of viscoelasticity on heterogeneous stress fields at frictional interfaces},
+	volume = {80},
+	issn = {0167-6636},
+	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167663614000520},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.mechmat.2014.03.009},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {Mechanics of Materials},
+	author = {Radiguet, M. and Kammer, D. S. and Molinari, J. F.},
+	month = jan,
+	year = {2015},
+	keywords = {Dynamic simulations, Frictional interface, Heterogeneous stresses, History effect, Viscoelasticity},
+	pages = {276--287},
+}
+
+@article{svetlizky_properties_2016,
+	title = {Properties of the shear stress peak radiated ahead of rapidly accelerating rupture fronts that mediate frictional slip},
+	volume = {113},
+	copyright = {©  . http://www.pnas.org/preview\_site/misc/userlicense.xhtml},
+	issn = {0027-8424, 1091-6490},
+	url = {https://www.pnas.org/content/113/3/542},
+	doi = {10.1073/pnas.1517545113},
+	language = {en},
+	number = {3},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
+	author = {Svetlizky, Ilya and Muñoz, Daniel Pino and Radiguet, Mathilde and Kammer, David S. and Molinari, Jean-François and Fineberg, Jay},
+	month = jan,
+	year = {2016},
+	pmid = {26729877},
+	note = {Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
+Section: Physical Sciences},
+	keywords = {acoustic radiation, earthquake dynamics, friction, nonsteady rupture dynamics, seismic radiation},
+	pages = {542--547},
+}
+
+@article{kammer_propagation_2012,
+	title = {On the {Propagation} of {Slip} {Fronts} at {Frictional} {Interfaces}},
+	volume = {48},
+	issn = {1573-2711},
+	url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-012-9920-0},
+	doi = {10.1007/s11249-012-9920-0},
+	language = {en},
+	number = {1},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {Tribology Letters},
+	author = {Kammer, David S. and Yastrebov, Vladislav A. and Spijker, Peter and Molinari, Jean-François},
+	month = oct,
+	year = {2012},
+	pages = {27--32},
+}
+
+@article{cuba_ramos_new_2015,
+	title = {A new formulation for imposing {Dirichlet} boundary conditions on non-matching meshes},
+	volume = {103},
+	issn = {1097-0207},
+	url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/nme.4898},
+	doi = {10.1002/nme.4898},
+	language = {en},
+	number = {6},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering},
+	author = {Cuba Ramos, Aurelia and Aragón, Alejandro M. and Soghrati, Soheil and Geubelle, Philippe H. and Molinari, Jean-François},
+	year = {2015},
+	note = {\_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/nme.4898},
+	keywords = {Dirichlet boundary conditions, GFEM, IGFEM, Lagrange multiplier method, non-matching meshes, XFEM},
+	pages = {430--444},
+}
+
+@article{kammer_length_2016,
+	title = {Length scale of interface heterogeneities selects propagation mechanism of frictional slip fronts},
+	volume = {88},
+	issn = {0022-5096},
+	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022509615301095},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.jmps.2015.12.014},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids},
+	author = {Kammer, D. S. and Pino Muñoz, D. and Molinari, J. F.},
+	month = mar,
+	year = {2016},
+	keywords = {Dynamic fracture, Finite elements, Fracture mechanisms, Friction, Heterogeneous interface},
+	pages = {23--34},
+}
+
+@article{vocialta_influence_2015,
+	title = {Influence of internal impacts between fragments in dynamic brittle tensile fragmentation},
+	volume = {58},
+	issn = {0020-7683},
+	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020768315000104},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2015.01.008},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {International Journal of Solids and Structures},
+	author = {Vocialta, M. and Molinari, J. -F.},
+	month = apr,
+	year = {2015},
+	keywords = {Cohesive elements, Contact, Fragmentation, Residual velocities},
+	pages = {247--256},
+}
+
+@article{yilmaz_influence_2018,
+	title = {Influence of heterogeneities on crack propagation},
+	volume = {209},
+	issn = {1573-2673},
+	url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-017-0239-6},
+	doi = {10.1007/s10704-017-0239-6},
+	language = {en},
+	number = {1},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {International Journal of Fracture},
+	author = {Yılmaz, Okan and Bleyer, Jérémy and Molinari, Jean-François},
+	month = jan,
+	year = {2018},
+	pages = {77--90},
+}
+
+@article{kammer_existence_2014,
+	title = {The existence of a critical length scale in regularised friction},
+	volume = {63},
+	issn = {0022-5096},
+	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022509613002159},
+	doi = {10.1016/j.jmps.2013.10.007},
+	language = {en},
+	urldate = {2021-09-21},
+	journal = {Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids},
+	author = {Kammer, D. S. and Yastrebov, V. A. and Anciaux, G. and Molinari, J. F.},
+	month = feb,
+	year = {2014},
+	keywords = {Explicit dynamics, Finite-element, Interface rupture, Numerical modelling, Regularised friction},
+	pages = {40--50},
+}
diff --git a/joss/paper.md b/joss/paper.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8dfb64e55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/joss/paper.md
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+---
+title: 'Akantu: a finite-element library for contact an fracture simulations'
+tags:
+  - C++
+  - python
+  - contact
+  - fracture
+  - cohesive element
+
+authors:
+  - name: Nicolas Richart
+    orcid: 0000-0002-1463-4405
+    affiliation: 1
+  - name: Guillaume Anciaux
+    orcid: 0000-0002-9624-5621
+    affiliation: 1
+  - name: Emil Gallyamov
+    affiliation: 1
+  - name: Lucas Frérot
+    orcid: 0000-0002-4138-1052
+    affiliation: "1, 2"
+  - name: David Kammer
+    orcid: 0000-0003-3782-9368
+    affiliation: "1, 3"
+  - name: Mohit Pundir
+    affiliation: "1, 3"
+  - name: Marco Vocialta
+    affiliation: 1
+  - name: Aurelia Cuba Ramos
+    affiliation: 1
+  - name: Mauro Corrado
+    affiliation: "1, 4"
+  - name: Fabian Barras
+    orcid: 0000-0003-1109-0200
+    affiliation: "1, 5"
+  - name: Jean-François Molinari
+    orcid: 0000-0002-1728-1844
+    affiliation: 1
+
+affiliations:
+  - name: Civil Engineering Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
+    index: 1
+  - name: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
+    index: 2
+  - name: Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
+    index: 3
+  - name: Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
+    index: 4
+  - name: The Njord Centre Department of Physics, Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Norway
+    index: 5
+
+date: 21 Septembre 2021
+bibliography: paper.bibtex
+---
+
+# Summary
+
+# Statement of need
+
+# Publications
+The following publications have been made possible with ``Akantu``:
+
+- @kammer_propagation_2012
+- @kammer_existence_2014
+- @wolff_non-local_2014
+- @richart_implementation_2015
+- @taheri_mousavi_dynamic_2015
+- @cuba_ramos_new_2015
+- @radiguet_role_2015
+- @vocialta_influence_2015
+- @corrado_effects_2016
+- @kammer_length_2016
+- @svetlizky_properties_2016
+- @vocialta_3d_2016
+- @yilmaz_mesoscale_2017
+- @yilmaz_damage_2017
+- @zhang_micro-mechanical_2017
+- @cuba_ramos_hpc_2018
+- @vocialta_numerical_2018
+- @yilmaz_influence_2018
+- @zhang_numerical_2018
+- @zhang_numerical_2019
+- @gallyamov_multi-scale_2020
+- @albertini_three-dimensional_2021
+- @brun_hybrid_2021
+- @rezakhani_meso-scale_2021
+
+# Acknowledgement
+