In　the　present　study,　the　reversible　adiabatic　temperature　change　(Delta　T-ad)　of　shape　memory　alloys　was　shown　to　be　proportional　to　the　mechanical　work　released　by　the　reverse　martensitic　transformation　during　unloading　(Delta　W-u).　As　there　exists　a　considerable　amount　of　data　(Delta　W-u)　on　superelastic　stress-strain　measurements　in　shape　memory　alloys,　the　proposed　relationship　allows　us　to　predict　Delta　T-ad　without　caloric　measurements.　The　estimated　Delta　T-ad　from　the　Delta　W-u　of　different　Ti-Ni　alloys　shows　good　linear　relationship　with　the　directly　measured　values.　Moreover,　following　such　a　design　criterion　and　by　tuning　of　composition　and　thermo-mechanical　treatment,　a　group　of　Ti-Ni　binary　shape　memory　alloys　with　directly　measured　Delta　T-ad　larger　than　35　K　under　tension　were　achieved.　The　large　Delta　T-ad　and　Delta　W-u　can　be　ascribed　to　the　grain　refinement　and　the　heterogeneous　internal　stress　fields　after　the　thermo-mechanical　treatment,　which　have　enhanced　the　critical　stress　of　superelasticity　and　recoverability　of　martensitic　transformation　during　unloading.　(C)　2021　Acta　Materialia　Inc.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.