Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

FENDER WHEEL ARCH CHALLENGE

FENDER WHEEL ARCH

Wheel Arch is the semi-circular part of the fender positioned above the wheel of the vehicle. The design of the wheel arch of the fender should be such that it must shield wheels and protect both passengers compartment and pedestarians from the projection of watr, mud and stones.The wheel arch area of the fender is usually designed as a cover or shield over the tyre along its perimeter to stop any debris or stones ,dirt,sand,snow,etc,from getting thrown into the vehicle or the BIW area as well as outside the vehicle and onto other vehicles or pedestarians on the road.For the vehicle to has its permit in different countries,the wheel arch of fenders must be compliant with the standards and regulations set by respective countries.

The European regulations requires a pre-determined clearance or a minimum distance of 10mm to be maintained between the fender and respective tyre at particular points, along the tyre profile as shown below:

Challenge:

SA-SA

25.959 mm > 10 mm

SB-SB

43.642 mm > 10 mm

SC-SC

38.36 mm > 10 mm

SD-SD

40.955 mm > 10 mm

SE-SE

43.786 mm > 10 mm

Project the made sketch onto the plane of the wheel.

Distance between SA point and fender outer curve = 9.949 mm (pass)

Distance between SB point and fender outer curve = 10 mm (pass)

Distance between SC point and fender outer curve = 0.114 mm (fail)

	DISTANCE	RESULT
SA-SA	25.959	PASS
SB-SB	43.642	PASS
SC-SC	38.36	PASS
SD-SD	40.955	PASS
SE-SE	43.786	PASS

OUTER CURVE OF THE FENDER TO	DISTANCE	RESULT
SA	9.949	PASS
SB	10	PASS
SC	0.114 mm	FAIL

Conclusion:

The given design satisfies all European standards but one, i.e. the distance from SC point to the fender curve (which is just 0.114 mm), which is way below the recommended 5 mm minimum distance. Therefore, this fender cannot pass the European standards. The design should be reverted back to the class A designer telling him to modify the design and increase the gap there.