{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]],"date-time":"2025-10-16T01:31:56Z","timestamp":1760578316065,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,3,15]],"date-time":"2021-03-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1615766400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Buildings"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Despite their favorable physical and mechanical properties for structural use, tropical woods, such as Iroko (Milicia excelsa), present knowledge gaps to be filled mainly about their mechanical characterization, which currently limit their use or result in under- or overdimensioned structural elements. Visual classification, one of the most used methods for characterizing wood, is inaccurate in the case of Iroko due to the wide variety of geographical locations in which this species can be found. In addition, mechanical characterization using test pieces with structural dimensions leads to high and impractical costs. In this context, this study aims to verify the mechanical properties of Iroko (imported from the Republic of the Congo) from small size specimens, a process that is currently standardized only for softwoods, and to verify the correlation of different properties through bending properties and ultrasound tests. Prior to the bending tests, the speed of propagation of ultrasonic waves was measured using the direct method. The results obtained show a good correlation between density and bending properties and the velocity of propagation of ultrasonic waves.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/buildings11030116","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,3,15]],"date-time":"2021-03-15T11:38:58Z","timestamp":1615808338000},"page":"116","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Mechanical Characterization of Iroko Wood Using Small Specimens"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Carlos","family":"Cunha","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"ISISE, Campus de Azur\u00e9m, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6507-4762","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marina","family":"Ten\u00f3rio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ISISE, Campus de Azur\u00e9m, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1141-5047","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Daniel F.","family":"Lima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ISISE, Campus de Azur\u00e9m, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5597-8175","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Arthur","family":"Rebou\u00e7as","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Norte, S\u00e3o Paulo do Potengi 59460-000, Brazil"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5034-8417","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lu\u00eds C.","family":"Neves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Resilience Engineering Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3976-0360","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jorge M.","family":"Branco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ISISE, Campus de Azur\u00e9m, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,3,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"341","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foreco.2004.10.069","article-title":"Utilization and traditional strategies of in situ conservation of iroko (Milicia excels Welw. 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