Asymmetric Aerosol Volume Transmission: A Computational Approach Toward Infection Prevention Efficiency of Face Masks

Asymmetric Aerosol Volume Transmission: A Computational Approach Toward Infection Prevention Efficiency of Face Masks

Matthijs de Winter, Frank M. Verhoeven, Lucie Vermeulen, Erwin Duizer, Alvin Bartels, Ana Maria de Roda Husman, Jack Schijven

Are face masks effective against virus transmission? Yes, says lab testing, but field observations say maybe. We noticed extremely low permeability values of face mask materials and so used Darcy to calculate that ~100% of the inhaled and exhaled air goes around the mask. However, essentially, Stokes number comes to the rescue, as aerosols containing most of the virus particles are not able to follow the air flow around the mask. So, yes, face masks work, but in a different way. Comments or questions welcome by email or below the LinkedIn post.

Physics of Fluids 36, 051902 (2024)
Corresponding Author: Matthijs de Winter

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