Nanoporous alumina membranes containing parallel regular pores of uniform size and normal to substrate surface were fabricated by anodically oxidizing high purity aluminum foils in acid solutions and their elastic modulus was investigated. The continuous out-of-plane displacement and current load of the porous membranes were obtained through bulge test combining real-time ESPI ( electronic speckle pattern interferometry) observation system. Then the elastic modulus was calculated through an analytical model and the pore distortion after load was characterized by HRSEM ( high resolution scan electron microscope). Measurement of mechanical properties indicates unusual mechanical behavior of these anodic alumina films compared with bulk alumina materials. This observation may help shed light on fracture mechanism of these films with nanopore arrays and bring further understanding on connecting of micro-meso structure and mechanical properties. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.