Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

What is wheel arch:

It is the semicircular component which it’s placed on the fender and above the wheel. The main purpose of the wheel arch is to protect pedestrian safety and also protect vehicle components from sand, mud, and stones etc.

Wheel arch design has different in each country that design totally depends upon the region road conditions. This data could be provided by highway institute of the countries.

Mostly European design procedure satisfied in all regions.

Main purpose of the wheel arch challenge:        

In this challenge calculate wheel arch area find out whether given fender of the car will pass or not in the European regulations.

                                                              European standard for wheel arch:

          

The clearance L shown in all five section of SA-SB-SC-SD-SE should be greater than 10mm.

The value of A should be 5mm at a line of 30 degree forward and 50 degree backward from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

Clearance value of L:

L value obtain from SA section is = 10mm.

• L value obtain from SB section is = 9.50mm.

• L value obtain from SC section is = -0.1139mm.

In this section negative values comes because wheel is present outside the fender arch.

• L value obtain from SD section is = -2.826mm

• L value obtain from SE section is = -5.9418mm.

Table A: Clearance L obtained at sections SA, SB, SC, SD and SE.

CLEARENCE L	OBTAINED VALUES
SA	+10mm
SB	+9.950mm
SC	-0.113mm
SD	-2.862mm
SE	-5.9418mm

Positive value are considered wheel arch fender section points placed outside the wheel.

Negative value are considered wheel arch fender section points placed inside the wheel.

But we have to maintain the wheel arch is maintained outside the wheel.

Clearance of L value doesn’t not pass the European regulation for wheel arch fender area at section of SB, SC, SD, SE.

CLEARENCE VALUE OF ‘A’:

• Finding the value of ‘A’ at line 30° forward from center vertical axis of the wheel.

• Finding the value of ‘A’ at line 50° backward from center vertical axis of the wheel.

     

Table b:

Clearance ‘A’ obtained at sections SB (at 30° forward from center axis), SC (at 50° rearward from center axis).

CLEARENCE A	VALUES
30 degree forward from central axis of the wheel	43.6mm
50 degree forward from central axis of the wheel	38.6mm

 From the above observation the given fender wheel arch area passes the European regulation area only in the case of ‘A’  clearance parameter.

Conclusion:

From the above results obtained, we can conclude that the given fender doesn’t  pass the European Standards for Wheel Arch area. I would forward to the styling team to modify the fender L clearance sections SB-SC-SD-SE.