Structural analysis and multi-objective optimization of the Drift Chamber of Mu2e particles detector

The National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), in range of the “Mu2e” research project for the design and building of a particles detector, has carried out in collaboration with EnginSoft and University of Salento the dimensioning and structural optimization of the Drift Chamber constituting the “I-tracker”. The external pressure, homogeneously distributed on the external skins of the axisymmetric structure, leads to buckling conditions, which must be avoid through geometric and structural tricks. The geometric profile of the supporting end-plates, the composite materials and relative candidate layups are parameterized and introduced within a multi-objective optimization procedure, in order to investigate several configurations and identify the best solution which guarantees the achievement of the main project requirements (i.e. weight reduction, stress/strain field minimization, maximization of buckling reserve factor).