The effect of composition on trigger stress for stress-induced martensitic transformation (SIMT) during tensile deformation in Ti-Al-Nb alloys was investigated. The trigger stress in these alloys was found to decrease with an increase in Nb as well as Al content in the range of Nb (8-12 at.%) and Al (15-18 at.%) studied. The effect was explained on the basis of effect of these elements on the critical free energy required for the SIMT. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.