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Between composite materials, shape memory alloy (SMA) composites are having a more and more relevant role. Typically, SMA wires are embedded in a metallic or a polymeric matrix to obtain materials with native multi‐functionality and adaptive properties. This work approaches the computational study of the mechanical response of a composite in which SMA wires, previously deformed, are activated by electrical current heating, and accordingly try to recover the original shape inducing a shape change or a prestress in the structure.

In particular, since the SMA behaviour is strongly affected by the thermo‐mechanical coupling, in the first part of this work we present a 3D phenomenological model able to take into account this aspect. The model time‐discrete counterpart is used to develop a 3D solid finite element able to describe the thermo‐electro‐mechanical coupled problem due to shape memory alloy …