Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

Wheel Arch

The wheel arc is a semi-circular part that is positioned above the wheel in the fender assembly. It is also known as the inner fender. The semicircular area is called the wheel arch. The wheel arch is designed in such a way that the wheel comes inside the fender. The wheel arc protects both the pedestrians and the vehicle component from the objects projected by the tire. Wheel arches have some standards and regulations to follow in different countries.

Japan Standard Requirement

Measure the clearance ‘L’ at sections SA, SB, and SC within the area ‘K’. The clearance should be at least 5mm at all three points.

The vertical wheel guard clearance should be at least 5mm at 30⁰ line forward and 50⁰ line rearward from the wheel center vertical axis.

European Standard Requirement

The horizontal clearance ‘L’ should be at least 10 mm in all the five sections SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD, and SE-SE.

The vertical clearance 'a' between the wheel and the guard should be at least 5mm measured along the section SB and SC.

US Standard requirement

Make clearance check details from -20⁰ to 100⁰ and make a clearance check table. All horizontal clearance should be at least 5mm and vertical clearance at 30⁰ line and 50⁰ line should be at least 5mm.

The European standard requirement satisfies the requirement for Japan and US, hence European standards can be followed for marketing the vehicle in all three regions.

Wheel Arch Calculation for European standard.

European regulation the minimum clearance has to be at least 10mm in all the five sections SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD, and SE-SE. Apart from that the minimum of 5mm vertical clearance have to be maintained at 30⁰ and 50⁰.

Projected Points

Horizontal clearance at section SA-SA

Horizontal Clearance at section SB-SB

Horizontal clearance at section SC-SC

Horizontal clearance at section SD-SD

Horizontal clearance at section SE-SE

Section	Clearance at Section in mm(L)	Position of wheel	Comment
SA-SA	9.9490	Inside Wheel Arch	Fail
SB-SB	10	Inside Wheel Arch	Pass
SC-SC	0.113949	Inside Wheel Arch	Fail
SD-SD	2.9003	Outside Wheel Arch	Fail
SE-SE	5.9973	Outside Wheel Arch	Fail

Vertical Distance between the wheel and wheel guard

The vertical clearance between wheel and wheel guard along the line at an angle of 30⁰ (SB) from vertical line SA.

The vertical clearance between wheel and wheel guard along the line at an angle of 50⁰ (SC) from vertical line SA.

Line	Clearance in mm (a)	Comment
At angle 300 (SB)	37.7815	Pass
At angle 500 (SC)	24.6572	Pass

Conclusion

The clearance at sections SA-SA, SC-SC, SD-SD, and SE-SE is less than 10mm and at some parts, the wheel is outside wheel arch. Thus, the wheel arc does not satisfy the European standard.