ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates the application of the constitutive relations and methods of analysis to some selected membrane mechanical experiments. Clearly, the specific choices of experimental examples reflect our personal interests and are not intended to give the impression that all biological membranes exhibit the same behavior. The method of approach will be to describe essential features of the experiment and then to set up a model for the material deformation and force equilibrium with a discussion of assumptions. Thermoelasticity and the temperature dependence of the area compressibility modulus and shear modulus of human red cell membrane. Thermoelasticity and area compressibility of phospholipid multibilayer and water systems. The topics in the dissipative group are: time dependent extensional recovery and response (viscoelastic) of human red cell membrane. Permanent plastic extension by relaxation and flow (viscoplastic) of human red cell membrane.
