Shape memory alloy (SMA) is a typical smart material that features the shape memory effect and superelasticity. Owing to stress-induced martensitic phase transformation that occurs at the crystalline scale, SMAs exhibit large reversible transformation strain and hysteretic dissipation. The high damping capacity and sufficient mechanical properties of SMAs make them one of the most promising materials for energy absorption, especially against impact loading. The combination of SMAs with CFRP composites provides new opportunities for improving the impact resistance and toughness of the composites. Several researchers conducted related works. For example, Jung et al. [
15] fabricated an air intake structure using an SMA-embedded composite that can generate a comparatively large actuating force by applying an electric current through the embedded SMA wires. Raghavan et al. [
16] designed an SMA fiber-reinforced composite to enhance the damping capacity and toughness of a polymer matrix, and appreciable improvement was observed in the damping, tensile, and impact properties of the composite. Wierschem and Andrawes [
17] studied an SMA-FRP composite for potential use in concrete structures, and the results showed that the SMA-FRP composite could improve the ductile and damping of the concrete structures and maintain their elastic characteristic. Panda and Singh [
18] numerically investigated the nonlinear free vibration behavior of an SMA-embedded composite panel, and the results indicated that nonlinear frequency parameters can be suppressed by adding SMA fibers to a parent composite without an external controller. Rodrigue et al. [
19] designed a smart soft composite actuator by combining four SMA wires in a soft matrix, and the actuator exhibited multiple actuation modes, including bending and twisting. Daghash and Ozbulit [
20] investigated the cyclic behavior of an SMA-FRP composite, and the results revealed that the SMA-FRP composite can recover from relatively high strain upon unloading and exhibit very high failure strain. Sofocleous et al. [
21] compared the energy absorption and damage development of a CFRP composite reinforced with an SMA wire and a carbon nanotube, and the SMA-reinforced CFRP composite exhibited high energy absorption. When the two components were combined, though the energy absorption improvement of the carbon nanotube-reinforced CFRP composite is the same as that of the SMA-reinforced CFRP composite, toughness is increased by the addition of the carbon nanotube. El-Tahan and Dawood [
22] studied the bond behavior of NiTiNb SMA wires embedded in CFRP composites, and the results indicated that interfacial bond transfer consists of two components, that is, cohesion before the onset of debonding and friction after the onset of debonding. Mahmood Baitab et al. [
23] reviewed techniques for embedding SMA wires in smart woven composites, and the SMA-embedded smart composites demonstrated tunable properties, active abilities, damping capacity, and self-healing properties. Quade et al. [
24] studied the effect of thin film adhesives on mode II interlaminar fracture toughness in carbon fiber composites with SMA inserts, and the addition of the SMA material between plies exacerbates this failure mode. Eslami-Farsani et al. [
25,
26] studied the effects of SMA wires on the buckling and impact responses of fiber metal laminates, and the results showed that the embedding of SMA wires enhances buckling and impact resistance. Moreover, the enhancing effect is sensitive to the SMA volume fraction and applied prestrain. Meanwhile, Pazhanivel et al. [
27,
28] examined the impact resistance of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite laminates reinforced with randomly oriented short strips of SMA under different temperatures and observed that the SMA-GFRP composite laminates exhibit enhanced damage resistance at high temperatures, whereas the addition of the SMA reinforcement contributes little in such a case.