Effect of sneeze flow velocity profiles on the respiratory droplets dispersion in a confined space: An experimental and computational fluid dynamics study

In this study, the effects of sneeze velocity profiles, including peak (PV), time (PVT), and duration (SDT), on dispersion respiratory droplets were studied experimentally numerically. Spatial–temporal datasets droplet exhaled from several subjects' mouths with different physiological characteristics obtained by particle image velocimetry. A direct relationship was found between forced vital capacity PV, while subject's body mass index significantly affected SDT. transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach using renormalization group k–ε turbulence model in conjunction Lagrangian tracking developed used to simulate motion characteristics. Both one-way two-way (humidity) coupling models these simulations. The CFD results showed that provided better agreement data turbulent expanded puff zones than model. led reasonably accurate fully dispersed dilute-dispersed phases. effect injection angle PVT larger PV values, initial higher values. addition, maximum spreading distance dmax,sp. numerical phase good trajectories isolated experimental data. findings study provide novel insights into profiles dmax,sp, sneezer subject threshold for transmission pathogens a confined space.