Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

WHEEL ARC CALCULATIONS

The wheel arc can be defined as the semicircular part positioned above the wheel of a vehicle.

It helps in avoiding the water, mud and stone particls entering into the engine and is a shield for the tyre.

Fender skirts are used to enclose outside edge of wheel well.

The design standards varies for different countries.

We are going to measure the clearance between the fender and wheel arc.

Teal wheel arc

1.JAPAN STANDARDS.

the clearance value L should not be less than 5 mm at all the conditions.

2. US Standards

US regulations predefined clearance of minimum distance of 5mm to be maintained between the fender and tyre.

In this they consider the angle at every 10 degrees from the horizontal axis, start from -20 to 180 degree. We get twenty one measuring values from these points.

3. EUROPIAN STANDARDS

The clearance of minimum distance of 10mm to be maintained between the fender and tyre at the points as shown in the figure SA,SB,SC,SD and SE.

Steps:

Five points are obtained by drawing the line perpendicular in y axis (SA), angular line forward by 30 degree(SB),.

rear side by 50 degree(SC),distance of 150mm from horizontal axis intercept and normal from point of fender (SE)

the midpoint of arc between SC and SE is formed as SD.

We get five measuring values from these points.

The measured are as follows

SB=10

SA=9.94

SC=-0.1139

SD=-2.88

SE=-5.90

SECTION REQUIRED CLEARANCE OBTAINED CLEARANCE RESULT

SA 10mm 9.9489mm FAIL

SB 10mm 10mm PASS

SC 10mm - 0.113667mm FAIL

SD 10mm -2.8728mm FAIL

SE 10mm -5.9656mm FAIL

Wheel Arch Area of the fender is found out ,

Area = 24432.9334 mm2

perimeter = 2318.6229mm

Wheel Arch Radius = 421.1815mm

CONCLUSION

The given value clearance is not satisfied except the SB which is 10mm. Hence the engineer has to change the curvature of the fender .