Ultra-high-performance concrete in structural dematerialisation: Performance, life-cycle impacts and practical limits

Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) is frequently used as a means of structural dematerialisation, yet its environmental and material efficiency depend on how its properties are translated into design, fabrication and life-cycle decisions. In this paper, the authors view UHPC-enabled dematerialisation as a system-dependent outcome rather than an intrinsic material property, based on a conceptual synthesis of literature, standards, and engineering practice. The discussion is structured around four interrelated domains: material formulation, structural design, fabrication and manufacturing, and life-cycle performance, which together determine whether reductions in material quantity translate into genuine efficiency gains. From a material perspective, UHPC’s high unit embodied impacts can only be offset when low-carbon binders are used and when designs explicitly exploit reductions in structural volume and reinforcement demand. At the design scale, the authors note that efficiency gains are already demonstrated in overlays, strengthening interventions and hybrid systems; however, broader integration depends on performance-based design strategies that enable targeted material placement, topology optimisation and tailored mechanical properties. Fabrication and manufacturing choices strongly influence realised performance through fibre orientation, curing energy demand and quality control, while durability, crack control and self-healing capabilities underpin projected life-cycle benefits. Nevertheless, the authors highlight that limited long-term field data and fatigue performance evidence constrain confidence in whole-life assessments. In parallel, fragmented codification, procurement structures, and uncertain end-of-life pathways further constrain wider uptake. The authors conclude that UHPC can deliver meaningful dematerialisation only when low-carbon mix design, design-led material efficiency, lifecycle-informed decision-making, robust quality assurance, whole-life procurement strategies, and verified field performance monitoring are aligned within a coherent implementation framework.