Moment of Truth

The lab has been really busy building things; mainly we've been plumbing new pore pressure lines.

Also, I'm currently in a 'cartoon' phase.

After tightening the connections, you come to the really fun(?) part: pressure test. Compressed air can be scary, since gas is so compressible, it contains lots of energy. We've come to call the control table the Corner of Death, since it's nestled between the high pressure vessel, the high pressure gas lines and the methane cylinder. We figure if you don't die of asphyxiation, burns or shrapnel, you'll get crushed under the triax machine when it tips over during the next earthquake. I love my job.

Here you can see us taking necessary safety precautions.







**PAUSE**







And everything was, of course, fine (the lines are rated to 6000 psi).
I didn't draw him here, but our other coworker, H. Sone, is already hiding under the table.