Linear or Non-Linear FEA for plastic (material) snap-fit?

[B_Jones]

Hi,
Should linear or non-linear FEA be used for a plastic(material) snap-fit? Thanks!

 

[Mustaine3]

How do you want to solve a nonlinear problem with linear FEA?

 

[Dave442]

Up to you to decide based on material/geometry/loading. In the past I've used nonlinear FEA due to:

Large displacements of the parts voiding small displacement assumption (geometrical non-linearity)
Snap fit analyses have generally involved contact between two or more parts (boundary non-linearity).
Plastic materials were typically non-linear under the operational loading conditions (material non-linearity)

 

[IceBreakerSours]

What questions are you trying to ask of the model? What experimental data do you have to feed the model? How do you plan on validating the model?

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