Challenge

Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

DDurvesh Naik24 Jan 2023

Aim:

to determine whether the provided design satisfies European standards.

Introduction:

The wheel arch is the semicircular part positioned above the wheel of a vehicle. The wheel arch of the fender should be constructed in such a way as to shelter the wheels and guard against the projecting of water, mud, and stones while also shielding the passengers' compartment and pedestrians. To prevent debris such as stones, dirt, sand, snow, etc. from getting thrown into the vehicle or the BIW area as well as outside the vehicle and onto other vehicles or pedestrians on the road, the wheel arch area of the fender is typically designed as a cover or shield over the tyre along its perimeter. For the vehicle to be permitted in different countries, the wheel arch of the fenders must meet the standards and regulations of the respective countries.

The european regulation requires a pre- determined clearance or a minimum distance of 10 mm to be maintained between the fender and respective tyre at particular points, along the tyre profile as shown below .
Wheel guard requirement : The value of 'a' should be more than 5 mm at line 30 degree forward and 50 degree reward from the central vertical axis of the wheel .

Calculation of Wheel arch area according to European Regulations :

A Datom plane is created at the outermost face fo the wheel .
Horizontal and vertical line is created from the center of wheel and make it reference. also project curve of wheel arc curve in 2d sketch.
Create 30 degree left side and 50 degree line right side with respect to vertical line .
Take offset of 150mm from the horizontal line .
After project intersection point at 5 locations and project it into the fender.
Now measure the clearance 'L'.