Massive Actuators at the E-Defense facility north of Kobe, Japan by Tim Jekel

These massive actuators are only 5 of 24 that control the movement of the giant shaking table [15 meters x 20 meters] that enables Japanese scientists to study the effects of earthquakes on building structures. The actuators are power by a huge gasoline engine that sends pressurized oil to 20 accumulators that store the pressure to feed to the actuators. The Japanese have invested billions in earthquake research. North of Kobe, Japan photo by Tim Jekel