Modeling SMA-enabled soft deployable structures for kirigami/origami reflectors

•The theory that can predict the deformation and deployment performance of shape memory alloy (SMA)-based soft deployable structures is developed.•The effect of geometry on the deployment process of SMA-based soft deployable structures is investigated through a parametric analysis.•A two-step numerical strategy that can simulate the real fabrication process of self-deployable kirigami/origami reflectorsis proposed.•The performances of two different kirigami reflectors (i.e., linear pattern and triangular pattern) and one origami reflector are analyzedto demonstrate the robustness of the numerical strategy.