Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

Fender Wheel Arch Challenge

The fender wheel arc criteria in a car refer to the space between the wheel and the body of the vehicle. It is an important consideration when selecting tires and wheels for a car, as well as when modifying the suspension or body of the vehicle. This is important to ensure that the tire does not rub against the fender, which can cause damage to both the tire and the body of the vehicle.

To determine the fender wheel arc criteria, measurements are taken of the distance between the centre of the wheel and the edge of the fender. This measurement is then compared to the width and diameter of the tire, as well as the offset of the wheel.

Various standards that are widely adopted for the design of fender wheel arch are Japan standard, European Standard and US Standard. These requirements are mainly enforced to ensure the safety of pedestrians and also the vehicles itself because during the run, the wheel does a lot of chipping and throw mud, particles of stones etc to the pedestrians if they are not well positioned. In order to prevent such instances, the wheel is placed inside the fender wheel arch with proper clearances. The various standards provide the details about the proper clearances, gaps, and positions.

Japan Requirements

As per the standard  requirements in Japan, the clearance, L as seen in the top view should be at least 5mm. The points are determined by projecting the points which are 30 degrees forward and 50 degrees backward from the midpoint of the central axis of the wheel.

US Requirements

As per the standard  requirements of USA, a clearance of minimum 5mm should be maintained similar to the Japan standard, but here, it should be done for every 10 degrees at the points taken from -20 degree to 180 degree from the central axis.

European Requirements

. In European standards also, mark the 30 degree and 50degree lines like the Japanese. In addition to that, a point should be marked on the projected arch at a distance 150 mm from the central axis. Again, a midpoint of the arc created between the new line and 50 degree line should should be taken on the projected wheel arch. Then the clearance from all these 5 points on the projected curve that is, the plane of the outer edge of the wheel to the wheel arch should be minimum 10mm.

In this challenge, it is asked to check whether the given fender wheel arch design satisfies the European standards.

Here, I measured the clearance from all the above mentioned five points and the results are given below and the diagrams of each  the points are also attached.

POINT 1 

POINT 2

POINT 3

POINT 4

POINT 5

WHEEL ARC CHALLENGE SKETCHED DIAGRAM

Result

From the measurements taken, it is proved  that the given design of fender wheel arch fails to satisfy the European standards. So,it is concluded  that the  design should need some modifications.