Résumé
Gabon is a tropical country in Central Africa that still has vast areas of forest, covering more than 80% of its territory. These areas contain a wide variety of tree species, most of which are still little studied, particularly in terms of tree growth strategies in relation to the mechanical performance of their wood. During their development, trees adopt different strategies, depending on the species in question, which are necessary for their survival and which depend on their immediate environment. These strategies have an impact on the quality of the wood produced, and in particular on the mechanical performance of the material. In this study, mechanical performance refers to the rigidity and strength properties of wood. These aspects of wood are of direct interest to manufacturers in this sector, because they are very important, especially when this material is used in structures. The tree growth strategy we are interested in is linked to the ecological temperament of the species, in other words its degree of tolerance to shade. This ranges from understorey species (shade tolerant) to high canopy species (pioneers) and those in the middle storey, which are said to be heliophilic or even semi-tolerant. The aim of our study was to identify differences in mechanical performance as a function of the ecological temperaments of 25 tropical hardwood species from Gabon by analysing their mechanical properties. The initial results indicate a higher mechanical performance for shade-tolerant species.