Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

FENDER DESIGN - WHEEL ARCH CALCULATION:

OBJECTIVE:Calculate the Wheel Arc area of European Standard and prove whether the car will pass the standards or Not.

Introduction to wheel arch of a car:

The wheel arch is an arch-shaped cavity in the body of a vehicle, which houses a wheel. It has two important functions. It serves for the safety of pedestrians and other cars because the wheel is situated in the body of a vehicle.

Hence Wheel arch cladding's are basically used for sound insulation of the vehicles. Wheel cladding reduces the road noise, especially during long drive in highways or in cities. Wheel arch cladding are of mainly two types plastic wheel cladding and metal wheel cladding.

TYPES OF WHEEL ARCH REGULATIONS:

To satisfy the wheel arc radius in the fender design we have to follow different standards for different regions . Some of the standards available are :

JAPAN REGULATIONS:

• As per the Japan Standard, the Clearence value L i.e. the gap between the tyre and the fender wheel arch should not be less than 5 mm for all the 3 points B, A & C.
• Wheel protection : The value of a shall be more than 5 mm at a line 30" forward and 50 from the other end of the central axis.
• 

EUROPEAN REGULATIONS:

• As per European Standard, The clearence L should not be less than 10 mm at all the 5 points SB, SA, SC, SD, SE.
• now lets see the regulations are matching or not from the below figures.

US REGULATIONS:

• All values should be greater than 5 mm to satisfy the regulations. The value of 'a' shall be more than 5 mm at a line 30* forward and 50*.
• rearward from the central vertical axis of axis of wheel.

ANALYSIS:

As per European Standard, The clearence L should not be less than 10 mm at all the 5 points SB, SA, SC, SD, SE

Now let us see if the given Fender & wheel model will pass the European standard or not.

The following values were achieved when measured:

SB-SB - 10 mm , SA-SA - 9.94 mm, SC-SC -0.112 mm, SD-SD - 2.8475 mm, SE-SE - 5.9018 mm

When compared the values with the European Standards the following results were achieved :

SB-SB - 10 mm ( PASS )

SA-SA - 9.94 mm ( FAIL )

SC-SC - -0.112mm ( FAIL )

SD-SD - - 2.8475 ( FAIL )

SE-SE - - 5.9018 mm ( FAIL)

CONCLUSION:

The styling team is required to modify the styling surface of the fender such that the clearance "L" at sections SA, SC, SD and SE is equal to ar greater than 10 mm by increasing the curvature at those sections towards outside.