Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

INTRODUTION:

In a vehicle over the wheels we see a semicircular component enclosing the wheel. This component is called as fender. It plays an imprtant role of preventing roocks, sand, mud getting thrown otside by wheels.

The semicircle is specifically called as wheel arch. Its design is such that it should be curved outside the wheel to prevent debris thrown away completely. Designing the wheel arch follows different regulations set by three standards.

 

                  (EUROPEAN STANDARDS)                               (JAPANESE STANDARDS)                                                  (AMERICAN STANDARDS)

From the top view of the fender, we can see that there is a gap between the wheel and wheel arch. This gap is measured at determined points. These points are derived from sketching the lines at angles shown in the figures. For european standards the minimum distance dshould be 10mm, and for Japanese and American standards the distance should be 5 mm.

DESIGN METHODOLOGY: 

In the following project, the given wheel arch design is to be examined to study if it passes the european standards. As mentioned the passing criteria for the gap is 10mm.

To determne the points a sketch is created where the SA, SB, SC and SD lines are created and intersected with the projected wheel arch. At these intersection, points are created.

MEASUREMENTS:

After finishing the sketch the points are projected onto wheel arch area and measured the distance between the sketched points and projected points each.

            

                                     (SB-SB)                                                                                                      (SC-SC)

         

                                  (SD-SD)                                                                                                          (SE-SE)

RESULT:

CONCLUSION:

From the results, only the distance between SB-SB point passes the European regulation. Hence, as not all the points pass the regulation the wheel arch should be redesigned.