Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

WHEEL ARC CLEARENCE CALCULATED

Objective :

Calculate the Wheel Arch gap at required points and check whether the car passes the European standard.

• Fender
• Fender covers a wheel, traditionally to prevent water and mud spray, but also for aerodynamic purposes. When the vehicle is moving tyre picks up stones & others and hurl them in all direction thus in order to prevent pedestrians from these stones fenders are used.
• Wheel arch/wheel well:
• The wheel arc is an integrated part of a fender assembly. It is a semi-circular part which is positioned above the wheel of a vehicle. In some countries, it is also called as an inner fender.

• Material used
• The most commonly used wheel well are of plastic material. In olden day’s inner fender or wheel well were made of sheet metal. If the vehicle with metal inner fenders is used, there's a good chance winter salt and moisture has caused them to develop some rust in hard-to-spot areas. Improper repairs after an accident can also accelerate corrosion here as well. It's important to note that metal inner fender parts are typically welded to each other, and to the body of the vehicle.
• Vehicle regulation :
• Vehicle regulations are requirements that automobiles must satisfy in order to be approved for sale or use in a particular country or region. There are various s that are available depending upon different countries. Some of the regulations that are used by Indian automotive industries are ARAI, SAE.
• Standards of wheel arch in different region:
• JAPAN REGULATION STANDARD:
• The value will be more than 5mm at 30 degree at forward and 50 degree at backward from central vertical line.
• EUROPEAN REGULATION STANDARD:
• The value will be more than 10mm at 30 degree at forward and 50 degree at backward and line 150mm above x-axis and mid point between 50 degree andline above 150mm.
• US REGULATION STANDARD:
• The value will be more than 5mm at line 30 degree forward and 50 degree backward from central vertical axis.
• Given case :

European regulation :

As per European regulation, the clearance value between fender and tyre profile must be greater than 10mm. The value is measured in projected point at an angle 30° forward and 50° rearward respectively. The measurement took in five different positions of the tyre at point a & b the clearance is acceptable. But at point c, d & e there is a negative sign which denoted the interference of wheel arch with a tyre.

MEAURED VALUES :

A -ACTUAL LENGTH :

B -A.L :

C -A.L :

D- A.L :

E- A.L :

A - REQUIRED LENGTH :

CONCLUSION :

Since the European regulation requires a minimum of 10 mm clearance at the given points thus the design of fender must be modified.