Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

Fender

Fender is a part of automobiles whether it may be of two wheel or four wheel drive. Its primary function is to prevent sand, mud, stones and liquid to come inside of the engine and outside also. Fender is generally made of steel sheet with 0.75 mm to 1 mm sheet thickness.

The main reason for the fender is to protect the wheel and other debris that can fly in the air during running conditions.

Wheel Arch

Wheel Arch is the part of the vehicle which is above the wheel. Wheel arch is made in such a way it also protects the car passenger from mud, stone, air and water rocks etc.

Fender Wheel Arch Regulations

Japan Regulations

• The clearance ‘L’ for tire, hub, cap and fender is to be measured within area K and create clearance check chart to validate
• The value of L should be greater than 5mm at all positions
• Wheel guard requirement: The value of ‘a’ should be more than 5mm at line 30° forward and 50° rearwards from the central vertical axis of the wheel

European Regulations

• The Clearance ‘L’ should be measured at sections SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD and SE-SE and create clearance check chart to validate

• At all the five sections the value of L should be greater than 10mm to satisfy the European Regulations

• Wheel guard requirement: The value of ‘a’ should be more than 5mm at line 30° forward and 50° rearwards from the central vertical axis of the wheel

US Regulations

• Clearance ‘L’ is to be checked at all positions from -100° to 100° and create clearance check chart to validate

• The value of L should be greater than 5mm to satisfy the regulations

• Wheel guard requirement: The value of ‘a’ should be more than 5mm at line 30° forward and 50° rearwards from the central vertical axis of the wheel

Calculation of wheel arch area according to European Regulations:-

• Initially we created the datum plane with the help of the curve and the point.

• We created the vertical and horizontal line .

• A line is created at 30° with the vertical and a line 50° with the vertical line.

• We created an intersection point with the arc and the line at 150 mm from the horizontal line.

• For L dimension we will do separately and for a also.

Obtaining the clearance L at the designated 5 points

The clearance distance 'L' is calculated at points SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD and SE-SE, which should be greater than or equal to 10mm

Here Z=L and Y=a

i.) Clearance 'L' at SA-SA

L = 9.94mm

ii.) Clearance 'L' at SB-SB

L = 10.00mm

iii.) Clearance 'L' at SC-SC

L =0 mm

iv.) Clearance 'L' at SD-SD

L = 0mm

v.) Clearance 'L' at SE-SE

L = 5.94mm

Measuring the clearance value ”a” for Wheel Guard Requirement

i.) Clearance 'a' at 30° line SB

a = 25.99mm

ii.) Clearance 'a' at 50° line SC

a= 24.65mm

Conclusion

SECTION	L>10mm	Result	a>5mm	Result
SA-SA	9.94	FAIL	25.99	PASS
SB-SB	10.00	FAIL
SC-SC	0	FAIL	24.65	PASS
SD-SD	0	FAIL
SE-SE	5.94	FAIL

From the above results we can conclude that the Fender does not pass the European Regulations, as the minimum clearance L between the Fender Wheel Arch and Wheel for vehicle and pedestrian safety is 10mm and this design does not meet the requirement.