COCOMAT is a four-year project under the European Commission 6th Framework Programme that aims to exploit the large strength reserves of composite structures through a more accurate prediction of collapse. Accordingly, one of the COCOMAT work packages involves the design of test panels with a focus on investigating the progression of composite damage mechanisms. This paper presents the collaborative results of some of the partners for this task. Different design alternatives were investigated for fuselage-representative test panels. Non-linear structural analyses were performed using MSC.Nastran and ABAQUS/Standard. Numerical predictions were also made applying a stress-based adhesive degradation model, previously implemented into a material user subroutine for ABAQUS/Standard. Following this, a fracture mechanics analysis using MSC.Nastran was performed along all interfaces between the skin and stiffeners, to examine the stiffener disbonding behaviour of each design. On the basis of the structural and fracture mechanics analyses, a design was selected as being the most suitable for the experimental investigation within COCOMAT. Though the COCOMAT panels have yet to be manufactured and tested, experimental data on the structural performance and damage mechanisms were available from a separate project for a panel identical to the selected design. This data was compared to the structural, degradation and fracture mechanics predictions made using non-linear finite element solutions, and the application of the design within the COCOMAT project was discussed.