There were many gauge widening cases identified in wagon wheels of Indian Railways during the past decade, but no investigation was conducted to analyse the failures. The present work aims to investigate the main cause of failures in wagon wheels due to gauge widening. A train running model is used to estimate heat generation at wheel and brake block interface. A finite element model is used to estimate temperature and stress state in the wheel during heat treatment, wheel and axle fitment, and braking. Heat partition between brake blocks and wheel is considered for the analysis. Further, heat losses to the environment because of convection and radiation are also incorporated in the model. The wheel gauge reduces during the braking process and the permanent wheel gauge increases during the cooling process. Permanent wheel gauge increases with non-uniformity in braking and a higher frequency of braking.

在过去十年中，印度铁路的货车车轮中发现了许多轨距加宽案例，但没有进行任何调查来分析故障。目前的工作旨在调查由于轨距加宽导致货车车轮故障的主要原因。列车运行模型用于估计车轮和制动块界面处的热量产生。有限元模型用于估计车轮在热处理、车轮和车轴装配以及制动过程中的温度和应力状态。分析时考虑了制动块和车轮之间的热分区。此外，由于对流和辐射导致的环境热损失也包含在模型中。轮距在制动过程中减小，而永久轮距在冷却过程中增加。