Objective

To calculate the wheel arc for given Fender model, by means of the European standards regulations.

Introduction

Wheel arc calculation is necessary for the fender design to pass the local regulation which are based on the local road conditions.

Wheel arch is a semi-circular area in fender, which houses the wheel well. It should have a sufficient clearance between tyre and wheel arch. So, that it doesn’t touch the wheel arch area during suspension. The clearance value differ from region to region, here are few regulations.

European Regulation Standard:

The clearance value will be more than 10mm at 30 degrees at forward and 50 degree at backward and line 150mm above X-axis and Mid-point between 50 degree and line above 150mm.

Figure 1 European Standard

Wheel Arc Calculation

This is carried out for pedestrian safety of the car, here by using the European regulations requirement to define the design given for calculation.

As required to plot the coordinates,

Figure 2 plotting the checking point on the plane.

In figure 2 the following coordinates SB, SB, SC, SD and SE are plotted using the angles and dimensions according to the requirement standard.

Next the points are checked if they provide a gap of 10mm from the outer part of fender to the outer most part of the tier, if it is more than 10mm it meets the safety requirement if it is below 10mm it doesn’t meet the standard.

Figure 3 Law extension of 10mm towards the fender

In figure 3 you can see the law extension of 10mm towards the fender is done, we can see that SA, SB have a clearance more than 10mm whereas remaining check points doesn’t meet the standard.

The above figure shows the following result

• SB plot satisfies the 10mm distance
• SA plot satisfies the 10mm distance
• SC plot doesn’t satisfy, there is 3mm clearance which doesn’t go with the standard.
• SD plot doesn’t satisfy, there is 0.25mm clearance which doesn’t go with the standard.
• SE Plot doesn’t satisfy, there is -3.4mm clearance which doesn’t go with the standard.

Conclusion

Hence we can declare that the following fender wouldn’t pass the standards the styling team must redesign the fender.