Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

WHEEL ARCH FENDER DESIGN CALCULATION:

Aim :

To calculate the wheel arch gap at critical points and check whether the car passes the European standard.

Objective :

• Study the wheel arch calculation between the wheel and wheel arc fender.
• Draw the lines at the required angle and points for the European standard.
• Measure the distance at each angle and mention whether the given model is pass or fail.

Fender :

A Fender is a part of an automobile or other vehicle body that frames a wheel as well (the fender underside). Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids, etc.,

Fenders are typically rigid and can be damaged by contact with the road surface.

The main purpose of fenders on cars is that they shield the wheels and they protect the passengers, pedestrians, and other vehicles from stones, mud, liquid, and other debris that can fly in the air because of the speeding rotating wheels while the car is running.

WHEEL ARCH

• It is a curved part of the fender positioned right above the wheel.
• The wheel Arch is designed such that it protects both the pedestrian and car cabin from mud, water rocks, and other road spray.
• Different countries have different wheel arch regulations in place, and the wheel arch design has to comply with them to be deemed usable in that country.

• For avoiding design alterations of the same vehicle to meet the different regulations parameters are taken into consideration for design purposes.

Fender Wheel Arch Regulations

1. Japan Regulations
2. European Regulations
3. US Regulations

Japan Regulations	European Regulations	US Regulations
The value of L should be greater than 5mm The value of "a" should be more than 5mm at line 30° forward and 50° degrees rearwards from the central vertical axis of the wheel.	the value of L should be greater than 10mm The value of "a" should be more than 5mm at line 30° forward and 50° rearwards from the central vertical axis of the wheel.	The value of L should be greater than 5mm to satisfy the regulations The value of ‘a’ should be more than 5mm at line 30° forward and 50° rearwards from the central vertical axis of the wheel

Calculations of wheel Arch area - European Regulations:

1. Create a datum plane in the wheel position.
2. Then draw the line along with the given European standard angles.
3. Using rapid dimension to give measurements to the wheel arch design.
4. After completing the wheel arch sketch, then project it to the wheel arch fender design skin data.
5. then using the measurement instruments to measure the gap between the wheel arch and the wheel.

Obtaining the clearance L at the designated 5 points

The clearance distance 'L' is calculated at points SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD, and SE-SE, which should be greater than or equal to 10mm

Clearance 'L' at SA-SA

L=9.95mm

Clearance 'L' at SB-SB

L=10mm

Clearance 'L' at SC-SC

L=0.113mm

Clearance 'L' at SD-SD

L=2.87mm

Clearance 'L' at SE-SE

L=5.96mm

Measuring the clearance vlaue'a' for Wheel Guard Requirement

Clearance 'a' at 30° line SB

L=43.62mm

Clearance 'a' at 50° line SC

L=38.142mm

Conclusion

SECTION	L>10mm	RESULT	a >5mm	result
SA-SA	9.9mm	fail
SB-SB	10mm	pass	43.62	pass
SC-SC	0.113mm	fail	38.142	pass
SD-SD	2.87mm	fail
SE-SE	5.96mm	fail

From the above results, we can conclude that the Fender does not pass the European Regulations, as the minimum clearance L between the Fender Wheel Arch and Wheel for vehicle and pedestrian safety is 10mm and this design does not meet the requirement.