Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge
FENDER DESIGN - WHEEL ARCH CHALLENGE
Aim: To calculate the Wheel Arc area and prove whether the car will pass the standards or not.
Fender Wheel Arc
The wheel arch is the semicircular part positioned above the wheel of a vehicle. Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids, and other road spray from being thrown into the air by the rotating tire. Fenders are typically rigid and can be damaged by contact with the road surface. Sticky materials, such as mud, may adhere to the smooth outer tire surface, while smooth loose objects, such as stones, can become temporarily embedded in the tread grooves as the tire rolls over the ground. These materials can be ejected from the surface of the tire at high velocity as the tire imparts kinetic energy to the attached objects. For a vehicle moving forward, the top of the tire is rotating upward and forward, and can throw objects into the air at other vehicles or pedestrians in front of the vehicle.
Japan Regulations Requirement
To meet the Japan Regulations Requirement, measure the clearance length L of tire, hub, cap and fender in three different positions within area K and produce clearance to check and validate. At all the three positions, the clearance should be greater than 5mm.
US Regulations Requirement
To meet the US Regulations Requirement, make clearance check on all the positions from -100 to 100 degrees. All the values should be greater than 5mm to satisfy the regulations.
European Regulations Requirement
To meet the European Regulations Requirement, measure the clearance length between the sections SA-SA SB-SB SC-SC SD-SD SE-SE and produce it to check and validate. At all the five sections, the clearance value should be greater than 10mm to satisfy the European regulations.
Validation of the car (From given wheel arc skin data)
| Sl. No. | Sections | Required Clearance | Actual Clearance |
| 1 | SA | 10mm | 9.949mm |
| 2 | SB | 10mm | 10mm |
| 3 | SC | 10mm | 0.144mm |
| 4 | SD | 10mm | 2.894mm |
| 5 | SE | 10mm | 5.997mm |
From the above findings, we can clearly see that only the section SB is meeting the European requirements, that is 10mm. The other four sections are not satisfying the European regulations. Therefore the design doesnot pass the required standards.