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Bag-mediated film atomization in a cough machine

Pallav Kant1,*, Cesar Pairetti2,3, Youssef Saade1, Stéphane Popinet3, Stéphane Zaleski3,4,†, and Detlef Lohse1,5,‡

  • 1Physics of Fluids Group, Max Planck Center Twente for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
  • 2Centro de Investigación en Mecánica Computacional (CONICET-UNL), 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura (FCEIA) – Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR) Riobamba 219 bis, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
  • 3Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut Jean Le Rond ∂'Alembert UMR 7190, F-75005 Paris, France
  • 4Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
  • 5Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Faßberg 17, 37077 Göttingen, Germany

  • *p.kant@utwente.nl
  • †stephane.zaleski@sorbonne-universite.fr
  • ‡d.lohse@utwente.nl
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 8, 074802 – Published 27 July, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.8.074802

Abstract

We combine experiments and numerical computations to examine underlying fluid mechanical processes associated with bioaerosol generation during violent respiratory maneuvers, such as coughing or sneezing. Analogous experiments performed in a cough machine—consisting of a strong shearing airflow over a thin liquid film—allow us to illustrate the changes in film topology as it disintegrates into small droplets. We identify that aerosol generation during the shearing of the liquid film is mediated by the formation of inflated baglike structures. The breakup of these bags is triggered by the appearance of retracting holes that puncture the bag surface. Consequently, the cascade from inflated bags to droplets is primarily controlled by the dynamics and stability of liquid rims bounding these retracting holes. We also reveal the key role of fluid viscosity in the overall fragmentation process. It is shown that more viscous films when sheared produce smaller droplets.

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Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. Fluids 8, 074802– Published 27 July, 2023
  • Received 28 February 2022
  • Accepted 8 June 2023
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