A computational study of expiratory particle transport and vortex dynamics during breathing with and without face masks

TL;DR

This study uses high-fidelity simulations to analyze how saliva particles disperse during breathing with and without masks, demonstrating masks significantly reduce particle travel distance indoors.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed computational analysis of saliva particle transport during breathing, including mask efficacy and vortex dynamics.

Findings

Without masks, saliva particles can travel over 2.2 meters.

Face masks reduce saliva particle travel to approximately 0.72 meters.

Simulations incorporate human anatomy and particle evaporation effects.

Abstract

We present high-fidelity numerical simulations of expiratory biosol transport during normal breathing under indoor, stagnant air conditions with and without a facial mask. We investigate mask efficacy to suppress the spread of saliva particles that is underpinnings existing social distancing recommendations. The present simulations incorporate the effect of human anatomy and consider a spectrum of saliva particulate sizes that ranges from 0.1 micrometers to 10 micrometers while accounting also for their evaporation. The simulations elucidate the vorticity dynamics of human breathing and show that without a facial mask, saliva particulates could travel over 2.2 m away from the person. However, a non-medical grade face mask can drastically reduce saliva particulate propagation to 0.72 m away from the person. This study provides new quantitative evidence that facial masks can successfully suppress the spreading of saliva particulates due to normal breathing in indoor environments.