Safety and Service Life of Equipment Designed for Cold Climate Operation

Developing improved technology for operation of machines and equipment subjected to extreme cold is addressed in an organized manner in Russia. The Institute of Physical‐Technical Problems of the North, in Yakutsk, Sakha, Russia, has conducted research and development in a wide variety of areas, including material brittleness, structural changes, and life‐cycle testing. These studies have resulted in the development of standards for the evaluation of the cold‐resistance ability of materials and structures. The Russian criteria for assessing the effect of cold on machines and equipment are explained and ramifications are discussed.