Current limiting composite material

An elongated current limiting composite, comprising:

• at least one oxide superconducting member;
• and
• at least one second electrically conductive member substantially surrounding the at least one oxide superconducting member,
• wherein the composite exhibits an electric field in the range of about 0.05-0.5 V/cm during a fault current limiting event, wherein a fault current limiting event comprises passing about 3-10 times an operating current through the composite, the operating current selected to be less than or about equal to the critical current of the oxide superconductor and greater than or about equal to one-half the critical current of the oxide superconductor at a selected operating temperature less than the critical temperature of the at least one oxide superconducting member.