Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

Object:-

To Calculate the Wheel Arch gap at required points and check whether the car passes the European standard.

Wheel Arch:-

The wheel arch is the semicircular part positioned at the place of above front and rear wheel of a vehicle. The most important body change was that the front wheel arch was cut higher into the fender.

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:-

Fig-01 Wheel Arch

Following are the given section details of wheel arch.

Fig-02 Wheel Arch section details

Section SB:-

Distance of section SB L=10.91 mm, i.e. 10.91 > 5 mm is to meets European Requirement/Regulations.

Fig-03 Wheel arch Section SB

Section SA:-

Distance of section SA L=9.94 mm, i.e. 9.95 > 5 mm is to meets European Requirement/Regulations.

Fig-04 Wheel arch Section SA

Section SC:-

Distance of section SA L=0.115 mm, i.e. 0.115 < 5 mm does not meets European Requirement/Regulations.

The observed value 0.115 mm which meens not meet European Requirement/Regulations, result fender falis.

Have to discusse with styling team for modification.

Fig-05 Wheel arch Section SC

Section SD:-

Distance of section SD L=2.68 mm, i.e. 2.68 < 5 mm does not meets European Requirement/Regulations.

The observed value 2.68 mm which meens not meet European Requirement/Regulations, result fender falis.

Have to discusse with styling team for modification.

Fig-05 Wheel arch Section SD

Section SE:-

Distance of section SD L=2.68 mm, i.e. 5.92 > 5 mm is to meets European Requirement/Regulations.

Fig-06 Wheel arch Section SE

Conclusion:-

The distance from SC & SD point to the fender curve (which is just 0.115 mm & 2.68 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.