Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

Objective:

To examine the given fender design to verify if the wheel arch of the fender meets the European Standards

Abstract:

Fender is the part of a vehicle that surrounds the wheel. Apart from being the exterior aesthetic part of the vehicle, its important function is to prevent debris such as mud, gravel, rocks, fluids and other street particles from entering the engine compartment or being tossed into the air by the high-speed rotating wheel as this can cause damage to the engine components, nearby vehicles, or pedestrian nearby the moving vehicle.

Fig 1. Front Fender of an automobile

There are two types of fenders, full bumper type, and half bumper type.

Fig 2. Fender types

There are many factors that need to be considered during designing the fenders of the vehicle. One of them is the wheel arch area.

In a fender, the wheel arch is the semicircular part that is positioned above the wheel of the vehicle. While designing the fender care must be taken that the wheel arch of the fender meets the required standards.

Fig 1. Front Fender of an automobile

There are two types of fenders, full bumper type, and half bumper type.

Fig 2. Fender types

There are many factors that need to be considered during designing the fenders of the vehicle. One of them is the wheel arch area.

In a fender, the wheel arch is the semicircular part that is positioned above the wheel of the vehicle. While designing the fender care must be taken that the wheel arch of the fender meets the required standards.

Fig 2. Wheel arch area considerations in a fender design

In this report, we will study

1. Different standards of the front wheel arch area requirements.
1. Japanese Standards
2. European Standards
3. American Standards
2. Examining the given part considering the European Standards.
3. Checking whether the front fender wheel arch meets the standards.

1. Different standards of the wheel arch area requirements

Different countries follow different regulations based upon the country's road conditions, government regulations, geography, climate, and various other factors.

Therefore in our case, i.e. for the wheel arch area calculation, we will have a look at three different standards.

The main purpose of the wheel arch area regulation is that seeing the front fender and tire from the top, the tire must be inside the fender by a certain distance

1. Japanese Standards

Measure clearance L of the tire, hub, cap, and fender in three different positions within area K and produce a clearance check chart to validate.

Clearance must be greater than 5 mm in all three positions (i.e., at A, B, C from fender curvature)

Wheel guard requirement: The value of 'a' shall be more than 5 mm at line 30* forward and 50* rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

Fig 3. Japanese Standards

1. European Standards

Measure Clearance L at sections SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD, SE-SE and produce CL check chart to validate.

In all five sections, the Clearance L value should be greater than 10 mm to satisfy the European regulations.

Wheel guard requirement: The value of 'a' shall be more than 5 mm at line 30* forward and 50* rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

Fig 4. European Standards

1. American Standards

Make clearance check details on all positions from -100* to 100* and make the clearance check table.

All values should be greater than 5 mm to satisfy the regulations.

The value of 'a' shall be more than 5 mm at line 30* forward and 50* rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

Fig 5. American Standards

3. Examining the given part considering the European Standards

We will examine the given fender design as per the European standards mentioned below

Fig 5. European Standards

We will start by constructing the points of measurements for the wheel arch area.

Next, we will note down the clearance values

Clearance for SA = 9.9490mm

Clearance for SB = 10mm

Clearance for SC = -0.113949mm

Clearance for SD = -2.8523mm

Clearance for SE = -5.9191mm

4. Checking whether the front fender wheel arch meets the standards

Comparing the above-observed values with the required values:

position	Observed clearance value(mm)	Required clearance value(mm)	Passes the requirement?
SA	9.9490	10	NO
SB	10	10	PASS
SC	-0.113949	10	NO
SD	-2.8523	10	NO
SE	-5.9191	10	NO

Conclusion:

Hence from the above observations, since the positions SA, SC, SD, and SE have a clearance of less than 10mm which is the minimum requirement for the European regulations, it is clear that the front fender's wheel arch area does not pass the European Regulations.