Largest 3D earthquake shake table

E-Defense is a table used for research into the resilience of buildings and structures against earthquakes. It measures 300 m2 in area (20 m x 15 m) and can support structures with a mass of up to 1,200 metric tonnes. It can shake its payloads with an acceleration of 1G horizontally in two dimensions, as well as 1.5G vertically. E-Defense is located in Miki City, Japan.

'E' stands for Earth. It is a pneumatic shake table located at a facility 30 km north of Kobe, Japan. The simulator comprises a kinetic platform with 24 pneumatic pistons attached to the underside controlled by a huge hydraulic pump system. Four 4,300-horsepower gas engines power the hydraulic pumps that pressurise the system. Test structures weighing up to 1,200 tons (2,400,000 lbs) such as wooden houses and even concrete office buildings can be tested on the table. The structures are built in an adjacent warehouse and lifted over by crane.