The reference I had in mind is:

Mechanics of the mammalian cochlea
Robles and Ruggero
Physiological Review Vol 81 Number 3 (July 2001) pp 1305 - 52

Thanks Jim,

Steve G found a link for it: (great minds think alike!)

"There's a nice review of this stuff he
http://physrev.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/81/3/1305 (Robles & Rugger
01, Physiol Rev 81: 1305-1352."

Am amazed at the work that's already been done in this area.