Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

wheel arch

It is a curved part of the fender positioned right above the wheel. The wheel Arch is designed such that it protects both the pedestrian and engine cabin from mud, rocks and other debris. Different countries have different wheel arch regulations, and the wheel arch design has to comply with them to be usable in respective country.

fender with wheel arch

wheel arch

fender wheel arch regulations for different regions

JAPAN

1. The clearance "L" for tire, hub, cap and fender is to be measured within area K and create clearance check chart to validate.
2. The value of L should be greater than 5mm at all positions.
3. Wheel guard requirement : The value of "a" should be more than 5mm at line 30degree forward and 50degree rearwards from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

EUROPE

1. The clearance "L" should be measured at sections SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD and SE-SE and create clearance check chart to validate.
2. At all the five sections the value of L should be greater than 10mm to satisfy the European Regulations.
3. Wheel guard requirement : The value of "a" should be more than 5mm at line 30degree forward and 50degree rearwards from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

US

1. Clearance "L" is to be checked at all positions from -100degree to 100degree and create clearance check chart to validate.
2. The value of L should be greater than 5mm to satisfy the regulations.
3. Wheel guard requirement : The value of "a" should be more than 5mm at line 30degree forward and 50degree rearwards from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

Calculations of wheel Arch area - European Regulations

standards

• "a" should be more than 5mm at line 30degree forward and 50degree.
• "L" should be greater than 10mm

mark and name the lines as shown in the figure given for the european regulations

And now using the analysis tab in the NX Cad in that click simple distance to measure the required distances as the European standard as shown in figure. from the SB line the clearence distance we measure is 43.32mm and from the 50degree SC line the clearance distance is 38.27mm as shown in figure.

now for the 'L' clearence

in SB the 'L' is 10 mm

in SA the 'L' is 9.48mm

in SC the 'L' is 0mm

in SD the 'L' is 1.13mm

in SE the 'L' is 6.59mm

Section	L' (>10)	result	a'(>5)	result
SA	9.48mm	fail
SB	10mm	pass	43.32mm	pass
SC	0mm	fail	38.27mm	pass
SD	1.13mm	fail
SE	6.59mm	fail

Conclusion

the minimum clearance between the fender arch wheel to the outer most wheel i.e 'L' is 10 mm and this design does not meet the this minimum clearance

From the results we can conclude that the Fender wheel arch does not pass the European Regulations