Detachable connection mechanics of thin-walled cylindrical snap fit docking

A complete structure is composed of different components connected by various links/connections that plays extremely important role in maintaining the integrity of the structure, however, compared to the components, there is relatively less research on links/connections. Based on our accurate angle inversion of a detachable thin-walled cylindrical snap fit docking, we reformulate the elasticity of the snap fit and derive a new disassembly force and frictional energy dissipation of assembly/disassembly process. The studies shows that the irreversibility of frictional energy dissipation is the thermodynamic origin of snap-fit’s symmetry-breaking or asymmetry that is easy to assemble and not easy to disassemble. The results in this study are useful for the design of adjustable mechanical mechanism and/or snap-fit metamaterials. To make it easier for readers to use the formulas in this paper to solve their own problems, we provide a complete Maple program in the appendix. [Display omitted] •Formulated the assembly/disassembly mechanics of a thin-walled cylindrical snap fit.•Modified a rotation reversion approximation based on exact solutions.•Derived a modified disassembly force of a thin-walled cylindrical snap fit.•Derived a frictional energy dissipation of a thin-walled cylindrical snap fit.