Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

Wheel Arch :-

• Wheel Arch is the semi-circular part of the fender positioned above the wheel of the vehicle.
• The design of Wheel arch of a fender should be such that it must shield wheels and protect both passengers' compartment and pedestrians from projection of water, mud and stones.
• For the vehicle to has its use permit in different countries, the wheel arch of fenders must be compliant with the standards and regulations set by the respective countries.

Objective :-

To calculate the wheel arch area and to prove whether the fender given will pass the european standard

European Standard :-

• The clearance "12' as shown in above fig at all the five sections SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD and SE-SE should be greater than 10 mm.
• Wheel Guard Requirement: The value of "a" shall be more than 5 mm at a line 30' forward and 50" rearward from centre vertical axis of the wheel.

RESULT :-

A sketch has to be drawn to on wheel face according to european standards of 5 sections SA,SB,SC,SD & SE to measure wheel base arch.

SA-SA :-

25.959>10mm

SB-SB :-

43.641>10mm

SC-SC :-

38.6>10mm

SD-SD :-

41.024>10mm

SE-SE :-

43.786>10mm

	DISTANCE (mm)	RESULT
SA-SA	25.959>10	PASS
SB-SB	43.641>10	PASS
SC-SC	38.600>10	PASS
SD-SD	41.024>10	PASS
SE-SE	43.786>10	PASS

Now to find the horizontal distance between the wheel and the fender. This distance should be at least 5mm from SA point. SB point, and SC point.

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

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

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

From Outer Curve Of Fender	Distance	Result
SA	9.949 mm>5	PASS
SB	10 mm>5	PASS
SC	0.114<5	FAIL

CONCLUSION :-

The given design satisfies all European standards except one, 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 revert back to the class A designer asking them to modify the design and increase the gap there.