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Abstract Currently, researchers have been studying ways to reduce the raw materials costs and energy consumption of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) production. Therefore, the feasibility of using aeolian sand to partially or totally replace natural river sand in UHPC is studied. The workability and quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties were comprehensively studied to investigate the effect of aeolian sand on UHPCs. It was found that: 1) The workability of UHPCs was significantly improved when river sand was partially or totally replaced by aeolian sand; 2) The compressive strength of UHPCs could be enhanced when river sand was partially or totally replaced by aeolian sand, and the differences in flexural strength among all the mixtures were not distinct; 3) Incorporation of aeolian sand as a fine aggregate slightly increased the toughness of UHPCs under uniaxial compression test; 4) The differences in the dynamic impact parameters among UHPCs containing aeolian or river sand, as well as those in the parameter evolution rules regarding impact times, were not obvious. The findings of this research promote the preparation of eco-friendly UHPC and provide a new way to use waste resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]