Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

OBJECTIVE: Using the European Standards Calculate the Wheel Arc area and prove whether the car will pass the standards or Not?

WHEEL ARC: It is a curved part of the fender positioned right above the wheel. The wheel Arc is designed such that it protects both the pedestrian and the car cabin from mud, water, rocks, and other road sprays. Different countries have different wheel arc regulations in place, and the wheel arc design has to comply with them to be deemed usable in that country. For avoiding design alterations of the same vehicle to meet the different regulations in different countries, the maximum value of the concerned regulation parameters is taken into consideration for design purposes.

Wheel arc comes with some standard specifications. when viewed from the front or top side of the vehicle. If the wheel is protruding outside of the fender, that would lead to more chipping while driving and compromise the pedestrian as the vehicle safety. Taking these factors into consideration, the wheel has to be positioned inside the wheel.

EUROPEAN STANDARD:

• Measure CL L at sections SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD, SE-SE, and produce CL check chart to validate.
• At all five sections, the CL L value should be greater than 10mm to satisfy the European regulations.
• Wheel guard requirement: The value of 'a' shall be more than 5mm at a line 30° forward and 50° rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

OBSERVATION:

Obtaining The Value of Clearance 'L'.

At Section, SB-SB the value of L is 10.000mm.

At Section, SA-SA the value of L is 9.949mm.

At Section, SC-SC the value of L is 0.114mm.

At Section, SD-SD the value of L is -2.879mm.

At Section, SE-SE the value of L is -5.975mm.

Clearance 'L' obtained at Section SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD, SE-SE.

SECTION	Clearance 'L' in mm	RESULTS
SA-SA	9.949	FAIL
SB-SB	10.000	PASS
SC-SC	0.114	FAIL
SD-SD	-2.879	FAIL
SE-SE	-5.975	FAIL

According to this table, the given fender doesn't pass the European Standards for Wheel Arc Area at sections SA-SA, SC-SC, SD-SD, SE-SE as they are below 10mm.

Obtaining the value of clearance 'a' for Wheel Guard Requirement:

The value of 'a' at line 30° forward from the central vertical axis of the wheel is 43.626mm.

The value of 'a' at line 50° rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel is 38.359mm.

The Clearance 'a' Obtained at a line 30° forward and 50° rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

SECTION	ANGLE	Clearance 'a' in mm	RESULTS
SB-SB	30°	43.626	PASS
SC-SC	50°	38.359	PASS

From this table, the value of 'a' is greater than 5mm so the fender passes the European Standards for wheel arc only in case of clearance 'a'.

Wheel Arc Area and Radius of Curvature of given Fender.

Wheel Arc Area is 24432.93mm².

Wheel Arc Radius of Curvature is 359.528mm.

CONCLUSION: From the obtained results the fender does not pass the European Standards for the Wheel Arc.

SUGGESTION: The styling team is required to modify the surface of the fender such that the clearance 'L' at all sections is equal to or greater than 10mm.