Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

1. Wheel Arch:

Wheel Arch is the semi-circular part of thee fender positioned above the wheel of the vehicle. The design of Wheel arch of a fender should be such that it must shield wheels and protect both passengers' compartment and pedestrians from projectlonof water, mud and stones. For the vehicle to has its use permit in different countries, the wheel arch of fenders must be compliant with the standards and regulations set by the respective countries.

2.0bjective of the Wheel Arch Challenge:

The objective of the wheel arch challenge is to calculate the wheel arch area and to provewhether the given fender of car will pass the European standards or not.

3. European Standards for Wheel Arch:

1. The clearance"L" as shown in above fig at all the five sections SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-Sc, SD-SD and SE-SE should be greater than 10 mm.

2. Wheel Guard Requirement: The value of 'a shall be more than 5 mm at a line 30° forward and 50° rearward from centre vertical axis of the wheel.

4.Obtaining Results:

Software Used: CATIA V5

Sketch is drawn on the wheel face as per the European standards provided and projected on the wheel arch at sections SA, SB, SC, SD and SE to measure 'L', 'a and wheel arch area.

A.Obtaining the values of clearance "L"

a)Measuring "L" for the given wheel and fender at SB:

The value of "L" at SB=10.00mm

B)Measuring "L" cor the given wheel and fender at SC:

The value of "L" at SC=2.936mm

d)Measuring "L" for the given wheel and fender at SD:

The value of "L" at SD=0.222mm

C)Measuring "L" for the given wheel and fender at SE:

The values of "L" at SE=3.152mm

TABLE A :Clearence "L" obtained at sections SA,SB,SC,SD and SE

Section	Clearence "L" 10(in mm)	Comments
SA	9.950<10	Fail
SB	10<=10	Pass
SC	2.936<10	Fail
SD	0.222<10	Fail
SE	3.152<10	Fail

From table A,the given fender does not pass the European Standards for the Wheel arc area at sections SA,SC,SD and SE

TABLE B)Obtaining the values of cleareance "a" for wheel Guard Requirements

a)Finding the values of "a" at line 30 deg forward from center vertical axis of the wheel.

The value of "a" at line 30 deg forward from center vertical axis of the wheel =48.639mm

b)Finding the value of "a" at line 50 deg rearward from centre vertical axis of the wheel.

The value of "a" at line 50 deg rearward from centre vertical axis of the wheel=43.356 mm

TABLE B: Clearence "a" obtained at section SB (AT 30 deg forward from centre axis),SC(at 50 deg rearward from centre axis)

Section	Angle(in deg)	CLearence	Comments
SB	30	48.639>5	Pass
SC	50	43.356>5	Pass

From table B,the given fender passes the European standards for wheel arch area only in the case of cleareance "a"

C.Wheel Arch of the given Fender

Wheel Arch Area=21000 mm2

Wheel Arch Radius=421.18 mm

5.Conculusion:

From the above results obtained, we can conclude that the given fender doesn't pass the European Standards for Wheel Arch Area.