Transformational behavior of shape memory wires embedded in a composite matrix

The peculiar thermomechanical and functional properties of adaptive composites with embedded shape memory (SMA) wires are directly related to the reversible martensitic transformation in the SMA-wires. The gradual transformation and the related strain recovery of the prestrained SMA-wires during heating is hampered by the rigid matrix. The constraining matrix thus influences the transformational behaviour of the embedded SMA-wires. The effects on the transformation heat and on the transformation temperatures of the forward and reverse transformation have been quantified and explained.