CONCLUSIONS
Developing a predictable flexural mechanism in thin, conventionally reinforced concrete elements is a concern
for applications requiring large ultimate displacements, such as a blast design scenario. Two approaches for achieving this design objective were presented. The results of this research are:
• A flexural mechanism with sustained resistance does not occur in thin concrete elements due to crushing of
the concrete in the compression zone. The fiber analysis model conducted in this paper confirms that panels
which are classified as tension controlled by ACI 318-11, Section R10.3.4, may have limited ultimate deformation capacity due to concrete compression failure.
• A predictable hinge can be created by using a specially designed steel mechanism at the center of the panel.
Dogbone panels were designed to obtain a support rotation of 10 degrees and a yield force equal to the nominal moment of a conventionally reinforced panel. Analytical methods based on first principles accurately predict
the behavior of the dogbone panel.
• Dogbone panels require considerable effort to fabricate, deviating significantly from traditional cast-inplace
techniques. Further research on alternative design details may be required for the dogbone method to be
applicable in practice.
• Locally debonding longitudinal reinforcement provides a predictable, ductile flexural mechanism in an emulative manner while maintaining enough development to allow transmission of the necessary bar forces to attain a high panel resistance.
• An analytical model based on a localized flexural mechanism and deformable beams was developed to predict
the behavior of unbonded panels.