This　paper　deals　with　the　behavior　of　concrete　beams　actuated　by　embedded　shape　memory　alloy　(SMA　for　short)　wires　through　an　extensive　experimental　program.　Ti-50wt.%　NiTi　SMA　wires　were　used.　Electrical　power　was　used　to　heat　the　SMA　wires.　Some　of　the　factors　affecting　the　deflection　of　the　beam　were　examined　experimentally.　These　factors　include　the　cross-sectional　areas　of　the　beam　and　the　number　of　SMA　wires,　the　pre-strain　of　the　SMA　wire,　the　curing　condition　(in　a　water　tank　or　in　a　standard　fog-curing　box),　the　curing　time　of　the　specimen,　the　actuation　mode　for　the　SMA　wire,　the　volume　fraction　of　the　embedded　SMA　wires,　and　the　diameter　of　the　SMA　wire,　etc.　The　experimental　results　indicate　that　a　large　recovery　force　in　the　concrete　beam　could　be　obtained　when　the　SMA　wires　were　heated　and,　accordingly,　the　SMA　wires　could　be　used　as　actuators　to　change　the　deflection　of　a　concrete　beam.　(c)　2006　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.