Ricerc@Sapienza

An incautious use of the well-known Galërkin’s technique to find approximate solutions of a differential
problem may lead to apparently wrong results. Examples are based on an inverse approach to investigate buckling
of compressed axisymmetric circular plates, a common subject in courses on mechanics of structures and stability of
structural elements. We discuss how a mistake may originate and show how it is possible to recover the expected
results, thus providing a means for the students to cross-check their outputs.