Fender Design
AIM: The aim of this project is to design the front fender of a car by taking into account all the design considerations required in the design of the front fender.
Fender :
A fender is part of an automobile which may be a car, motorcycle, or any other vehicle body which frames the wheel well ( underside fender). The primary purpose of this part is to prevent mud, rock, sand, or other road sprays from being thrown into the air by the rotating tire. Fenders are typically rigid and can be damaged by contact with the road surface.
Sticky materials, such as mud, may adhere to the smooth outer tire surface, while smooth loose objects, such as stones, can become temporarily embedded in the tread grooves as the tire rolls over the ground. These materials can be ejected from the surface of the tire at high velocity as the tire imparts kinetic energy to the attached objects. For a vehicle moving forward, the top of the tire is rotating upward and forward and can throw objects into the air at other vehicles or pedestrians in front of the vehicle. This may cause injury to pedestrians and also damage other vehicles which are nearby to avoid this Fender is provided on the top of the wheel which covers the wheel well and avoids all the road stuff to be thrown into the air.
In the case of a car, fenders are located on the front side and rear side of the vehicle, that's why the fenders are named front fenders and rear fenders as shown below.
Types of Fender:
The fenders can be classified into two types
1) Full bumper type
2) Half bumper type
1) Full bumper type:
This type of car fender was utilized for old cars which were having a long bonnet size and to match up with this a full bumper fender was used. These fenders cover a large portion of the wheel and thereby not allowing the road spray to get off the road surface, but the disadvantage of this was the weight of the fender and also the material consumed to prepare it. But as we move on further and with advancement in the automobile industry we have come up with another type of car fenders and full bumper-type fenders have become absolute.
2) Half bumper type:
This type of fender is now tremendously used in all modern cars as this fender consumed lesser material than that required in the full bumper type which reduces the weight of the fender and also the cost required to manufacture it.
The material used for the fender:
There are different types of material available in the market that can be used to manufacture the fender such as steel, aluminum, Thermoplastic olefin elastomers, etc. But the use of material depends upon the type of vehicle its purpose and the cost of the vehicle all these factors decide the material as in the case of a sports car the fender may be manufactured from aluminum or carbon fiber to reduce the weight and also to provide strength to the vehicle.
Design Considerations for Fender
While designing a fender several design parameters are to consider such as how to decide the portion required for drip area, sill mounting, bumper mounting, and A-pillar mounting. How much thickness should be given to it the angle considerations in the design of drip area and minimum radius value for fender, etc
Types of mounting provided on Fender:
A fender consists of five types of mountings to be provided on the fender to get it fixed properly on the car frame so, as to avoid NVH i.e noise, vibrations, and harness.
1) Drip area mounting
2) Bumper mounting
3) Sill mounting
4) A-pillar mounting
5) Splash & Baffle mounting
1. DRIP AREA MOUNTNG:
This is the main portion of the fender which provides the stability to it while designing the fender, the position of this area is to be calculated from the master section. 200mm space for cowl mounting & wiper motor mounting is needed so, that many portions should be left while designing the fender furthermore 150mm for the headlamps unit is to be taken into account. The maximum depth of drip area should not exceed 40mm, if done so then the spring back effect gets introduced in drip are mounting. Proper holes are to be created in the drip area for fixing it firmly with the frame of the vehicle.
2. SILL AREA:
the sill refers to the structural member that runs along the bottom of a car's body, from the front fender to the rear bumper. The sill helps to support the weight of the car and to connect the various components of the chassis
3. BAFFLE MOUNTING:
4. BUMPER MOUNTING:
5. A PILLAR MOUNTING:
- In automotive design, the A-pillar is the vertical support structure located on either side of the windshield that helps to support the roof of the car. The term "A-pillar" comes from the fact that it is typically the first letter in the alphabet used to designate various structural elements in a car's body.
- The A-pillar plays a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity of the car and protecting the passengers in the event of a collision or rollover. It is often made of high-strength materials such as steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber, and is designed to absorb and distribute the forces generated by an impact.
- In addition to its structural function, the A-pillar can also have an impact on the car's aerodynamics and visibility. The shape and position of the A-pillar can affect the airflow around the car, and can also create blind spots in the driver's field of vision. For this reason, designers often strive to create A-pillars that are as slim and unobtrusive as possible, while still meeting safety and structural requirements.
- The A-pillar is also a key design element that can contribute to the overall aesthetics and style of the car. Some cars feature A-pillars that are sloped or angled to create a sporty or aggressive look, while others may be more vertical and traditional in style. Ultimately, the design of the A-pillar must balance safety, functionality, and aesthetics to create a car that is both safe and attractive.
FENDER SHEET THICKNESS:
0.75 mm
CONCLUSION:
We have studied and design the front fender as per design regulations following the master section provided.