Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

Aim: To check the Wheel Arch gap at required points and check whether the given car specimen passes the European standard.

Theory:

1. Wheel Arch Gap: The arch-shaped part of the bodywork of a car or other vehicle that allows the wheel to be accessed, and in the case of front wheels, enables them to be steered.

2. Wheel Arch Standards: Every country makes regulations for their motor vehicles to make a safer environment for both the passengers and the pedestrians, following which below are some of the regulations regarding the fender wheel arch of some countries:-

A] Europian Standards: In the below image, the clearance has been provided at sections SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD, and SE-SE of L=10mm or greater.

B] Japan Standards: Here, we need to provide a clearance gap of L=5mm or more as depicted in the below image between the fender wheel arch and the outer surface of the wheel.




C] US Standards:- Here also, we need to provide a clearance gap of L=5mm or more as depicted in the below image between the fender wheel arch and the outer surface of the wheel.

Along with we need to do the clearance check every 10 deg between -100 to 100 deg.



Calculations and Results:-




> In the above image first we made the reference lines at 90 and 0-180 degs. Then to make the sections, first, we use the command called 'Project Curves in the sketching tool in order to get the outline of the fender arch.

> Now to create the SB-Section, we created a line from the wheel center at 30 deg to a certain length which intersects the wheel arch projection as well, to get intersecting points for later calculations.

> Then we create the SA Section at 90 deg from the wheel center.

>Then we create the SC-Section, we created a line from the wheel center at 50 deg from the SA section Line to a certain length which intersects the wheel arch projection as well, to get intersecting points for later calculations.

> Now we draw a line up to the wheel arch projection to make the SE section which is 150 mm from the neutral X-axis (0-180 deg line) and calculate the and of it from the SC section.

> Then, we create a line with the half angle between the SC and SE Section thus creating an angular bisector hence making equal sections and getting the SD Section.

> Now we come out of the sketcher and Insert> Curve>Text to make the image more asthetic and mark all the important points on the image.

> The in the 3D curve, using Projectiong curve command, we make the points of the sketch on the Fender Arch and Wheel.

>Then using the Analysis tool and in the dimension, choosing project dimension, we will be able to calculate the distance of the various sections.

Results:-

1> SA-SA SECTION:-



2> SB-SB SECTION:-






3> SC-SC SECTION:-

NOTE: The model was tilted, while taking the dimensions, hence to avoid any ambiguity, I have mentioned the respective section.




4>SD-SD SECTION:-




5> SE-SE SECTION:-




Conclusion:-



Since the sections do not satisfy the given parameters, and also at some sections we have observed the wheel was coming out of the arch, we conclude that the car does not passes the European standards. Hence remodeling of the arch is needed.