Inflation analyses of a circular elastomeric membrane with hydrostatic pressure

Composite diaphragm inflation (CDI) experiment is a useful methodology for exploring the mechanics relation of cell-cell junctions within a living epithelial sheet. In this paper, a new methodology of CDI experiment has been put forward. The finite deformation of a circular polydimezhylsiloxane elastomeric membrane, which is used as the substrate for the culture of epithelial cells, under hydrostatic pressure is explored by the theory of non-linear continuum mechanics. The simplified governing equations with minimum amount of differential equations and boundary conditions are obtained and solved by multiple shooting method. The influences on the membrane by hydrostatic pressure have been discussed.