Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge
OBJECTIVE:
The main objective of the wheel arch challenge is to calculate the wheel arch area and to prove whether the given fender of the car will pass the European standards or not.
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 a fender should be such that it must shield wheels and protect both passenger's compartments and pedestrians from the projection of water, mud, and stone
- For the vehicle to have its use permit in different countries, the wheel arch of the fender must be compliant with standards and regulations set by the respective countries.
EUROPEAN STANDARDS:
The European standards regulation requires a predetermined clearance or a minimum distance of 10mm to be maintained between the fender (Front Quarter Panel) and the respective tyre at particular points(5 points/Sections to be extracted) along with the tyre profile as shown below.
- The clearance "L" as shown in the above fig at all sections SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD, and SE-SE should be greater than 10mm.
- Wheel Guard Requirement: The value of "a: shall be more than 5mm at a line 30 degrees f forward and 50 degrees backward from the center vertical axis of the wheel.
OBTAINING RESULTS:
Software Used: NX 12
The sketch is drawn on the wheel face as per the European standards provided and projected on the wheel arch at sections SA, SB, SC, SD, and SE to measure "L", "a", and wheel arch area.
Here, we need to check the below test,
- Obtaining the value of clearance "L"
- Obtaining the value of clearance "a" for Wheel Guard Requirement
- Wheel Arch Area of the given Fender
1) Obtaining the value of clearance "L":
a) Measuring "L" for the given wheel and fender at SB:
The value of "L" at SB = 10 mm
b) Measuring :L: for the given wheel and fender at SA:
The value of "L" at SA = 9.9529 mm
c) Measuring "L" for the given wheel and fender at SC:
The value of "L" at SC = 0.1971 mm
d) Measuring "L" for the given wheel and fender at SD:
The value of "L" at SD = -2.8621 mm
e) Measuring "L" for the given wheel and fender at SE:
The value of "L" at SE = -5.9921 mm
Table A: Clearance "L" obtained at sections SA, SB, SC, SD, and SE
| Section | Clearance"L"(in mm) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| SA | 9.9529 < 10 | Fail |
| SB | 10.0000 = 10 | Pass |
| SC | 0.1971 < 10 | Fail |
| SD | -2.8621 < 10 | Fail |
| SE | -5.9921 < 10 | Fail |
From table A, the given fender doesn't pass the European standards for wheel arch area at sections SA, SB, SC, SD, and SE.
2) Obtaining the value of clearance "a" for Wheel Guard Requirement:
a) Finding the value of "a" at line 30 Degrees forward from the center vertical axis of the wheel.
The value of "a" at line 30 degrees forward from the center of the axis of the wheel = 44.9189 mm
b) Finding the value of "a" at line 50 Degrees forward from the center vertical axis of the wheel.
The value of "a" at line 50 degrees forward from the center of the axis of the wheel = 38.5499 mm
Table B: Clearance "a" obtained at sections SB ( at 30 degrees forward from the center axis), SC(at 50 degrees rearward from the center axis).
From table B, the given fender passes the European standards for wheel arch area only in the case of clearance "a".
Table B: Clearance "a" obtained at sections SB ( at 30 forward from the center axis), SC (at 50 degrees rearward from the center axis).
| Section | Angle (in deg) | Clearance"a"(in mm) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB | 30 | 44.9189 > 5 | Pass |
| SC | 50 | 38.5499 > 5 | Pass |
From table B, the given fender passes the European standards for wheel arch area only in the case in the case of clearance "a".
3) Wheel Arch Area of the given Fender:
Wheel Arch Area = 24432.93 mm2
Wheel Arch Radius = 421.18 mm
CONCLUSION:
From the above results obtained, we can conclude that the given fender doesn't pass the European Standards for the Wheel Arch area.
SUGGESTION:
The styling team is required to modify the styling surface of the fender such that the clearance "L" at sections SA, SB, SC, SD, and SE is equal to or greater than 10mm by increasing the curvature at those sections towards the outside.