Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge
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 passengers’ compartment and pedestrians from the projection of water, mud and stones.
For the vehicle to have its use permit in different countries, the wheel arch offenders must be compliant with the standards and regulations set by the respective countries.
The objective of the Wheel Arch Challenge
The objective of the wheel arch challenge is to calculate the wheel arch area and to prove whether the given fender of the car will clear the European standards or not.
European Standards for a fender-
Rules and regulations
- Measure the distances between the points on the wheel circle and fender curve. All of these should be greater than 10mm to satisfy the European regs.
- Secondly, the horizontal distances from SA, SB, and SC point to the fender curve should be at least 5mm.
- Check whether the design passes these conditions and conclude whether it can pass the European Regulations Requirement.
Procedure-
- Take the outline of the wheel and the fender.
- Make the centre of the wheel circle.
- Draw horizontal and vertical perpendicular axes from the centre of the wheel circle.
- Draw lines at 30 degrees and 50 degrees from the centre.
- Make a point on the fender line at 150mm from the horizontal.
- Extend a line to this point from the centre.
- Then make a line that is exactly between the 50-degree line and the line made on the 150mm point.\
Sketch to find the value of a
| Distance | Pass/fail | |
| SA-SA | 25.992mm | pass |
| SB-SB | 43.541mm | pass |
| SC-SC | 38.36mm | pass |
| SD-SD | 42.662mm | pass |
| SE-SE | 47.625mm | pass |
Sketch to find the value of L
| DISTENCE | PASS/FILE | |
| SA | 9.949mm | Fail |
| SB | 10mm | Pass |
| SC | 0mm | Fail |
| SD | 0mm | Fail |
| SE | 2.078mm | Fail |
Conclusion
- The given design doesn't satisfy all European standards
- The design should be reverted back to the class A designer telling him to modify the design and increase the gap there.