This study aimed at evaluating the torsional capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) beams externally wrapped with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials. An analytical model was described and used as a new computational procedure based on the softened truss model (STM) to predict the torsional behavior of RC beams strengthened with FRP. The proposed analytical model was validated with the existing experimental data for rectangular sections strengthened with FRP materials and considering torque-twist relationship and crack pattern at failure. The confined concrete behavior, in the case of FRP wrapping, was considered in the constitutive laws of concrete in the model. Then, an efficient algorithm was developed in MATLAB environment to accomplish the analysis, solve the appropriate equations, and calculate the torsional moment and angle of twist at all points. The parametric study considered the effect of effective fiber strain to reach a better prediction for the full torsional behavior. The model was able to predict the torsional behavior of the RC beams strengthened with FRP materials before and after cracking stages with reasonable accuracy.

Composite materials have attracted wide attention in strengthening of structural members. In this study, the behavior of rectangular reinforced concrete (RC) strengthened with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates under pure torsion was investigated numerically and validated by existing data from literature. Various practical strengthening configurations were considered and the efficiency of them was illustrated. Concrete damage plasticity constitutive model was used and required parameters was drawn. Good agreement in terms of torque-twist behaviors of RC beams strengthened with FRP laminates before and after cracking was found. Reasonable steel and FRP reinforcement responses as well as crack patterns were achieved and the failure modes of all the specimens were modeled correctly. A parametric study was carried out and parameter such as number of FRP plies, concrete compressive strength, and FRP strip orientations were considered. The results showed that the torsional capacity could improves by increasing the number of FRP plies and concrete compressive strength. Moreover, no significant change in the torsional capacity of RC beams when it was strengthened with a 45 or with a 90 FRP laminate was observed.