Aerodynamic Dispersion of Respiratory Droplets and Aerosols by Turbulent Airflow
The precautionary measures recommended during the current COVID-19 pandemic do not consider the effect of turbulent airflow. We found the propagation of droplets and aerosols highly affected by this condition. The spread of respiratory droplets by the action of sneezing is characterized by the dynam...
| المؤلفون الرئيسيون: | , , |
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| التنسيق: | مقال |
| اللغة: | English |
| منشور في: |
MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| سلاسل: | Fluids |
| الموضوعات: | |
| الوصول للمادة أونلاين: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5521/6/3/119 |
| _version_ | 1827697762777432064 |
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| author | Pablo Cornejo Nicolás Guerrero Vicente Sandoval |
| author_facet | Pablo Cornejo Nicolás Guerrero Vicente Sandoval |
| author_sort | Pablo Cornejo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The precautionary measures recommended during the current COVID-19 pandemic do not consider the effect of turbulent airflow. We found the propagation of droplets and aerosols highly affected by this condition. The spread of respiratory droplets by the action of sneezing is characterized by the dynamics of two groups of droplets of different sizes: Larger droplets (300–900 μm) have a ballistic trajectory and can be spread up to 5 m, while a cloud of smaller droplets (100–200 μm) can be transported and dispersed at longer distances up to 18 m by the action of the turbulent airflow. In relation to the spread of exhaled aerosols during respiration, these remain in the air for long periods of time. In the presence of intense or moderate airflow, this set of particles follow airflow streamlines, and thus their propagation is directly determined by the air velocity field. Given the scientific evidence, these results should be considered in public debate about the aerodynamic dispersion characteristics of scenarios where social interactions occur and about the measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:16:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53f9dcc7cf8a47dba4828c528022b5b5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2311-5521 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:16:23Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fluids |
| spelling | doaj.art-53f9dcc7cf8a47dba4828c528022b5b52023-11-21T10:23:31ZengMDPI AGFluids2311-55212021-03-016311910.3390/fluids6030119Aerodynamic Dispersion of Respiratory Droplets and Aerosols by Turbulent AirflowPablo Cornejo0Nicolás Guerrero1Vicente Sandoval2Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Concepción, Concepción 4070409, ChileInterdisciplinary Center for the Aquaculture Research (INCAR), Concepción 4030000, ChileDisaster Research Unit, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, GermanyThe precautionary measures recommended during the current COVID-19 pandemic do not consider the effect of turbulent airflow. We found the propagation of droplets and aerosols highly affected by this condition. The spread of respiratory droplets by the action of sneezing is characterized by the dynamics of two groups of droplets of different sizes: Larger droplets (300–900 μm) have a ballistic trajectory and can be spread up to 5 m, while a cloud of smaller droplets (100–200 μm) can be transported and dispersed at longer distances up to 18 m by the action of the turbulent airflow. In relation to the spread of exhaled aerosols during respiration, these remain in the air for long periods of time. In the presence of intense or moderate airflow, this set of particles follow airflow streamlines, and thus their propagation is directly determined by the air velocity field. Given the scientific evidence, these results should be considered in public debate about the aerodynamic dispersion characteristics of scenarios where social interactions occur and about the measures to mitigate the spread of the virus.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5521/6/3/119droplet and aerosols propagationturbulenceCFDurban aerodynamicsWMLES |
| spellingShingle | Pablo Cornejo Nicolás Guerrero Vicente Sandoval Aerodynamic Dispersion of Respiratory Droplets and Aerosols by Turbulent Airflow Fluids droplet and aerosols propagation turbulence CFD urban aerodynamics WMLES |
| title | Aerodynamic Dispersion of Respiratory Droplets and Aerosols by Turbulent Airflow |
| title_full | Aerodynamic Dispersion of Respiratory Droplets and Aerosols by Turbulent Airflow |
| title_fullStr | Aerodynamic Dispersion of Respiratory Droplets and Aerosols by Turbulent Airflow |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aerodynamic Dispersion of Respiratory Droplets and Aerosols by Turbulent Airflow |
| title_short | Aerodynamic Dispersion of Respiratory Droplets and Aerosols by Turbulent Airflow |
| title_sort | aerodynamic dispersion of respiratory droplets and aerosols by turbulent airflow |
| topic | droplet and aerosols propagation turbulence CFD urban aerodynamics WMLES |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5521/6/3/119 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pablocornejo aerodynamicdispersionofrespiratorydropletsandaerosolsbyturbulentairflow AT nicolasguerrero aerodynamicdispersionofrespiratorydropletsandaerosolsbyturbulentairflow AT vicentesandoval aerodynamicdispersionofrespiratorydropletsandaerosolsbyturbulentairflow |