What is it about?
We developed and tested CFD models to better predict how air moves when people breathe. This helps us understand how airborne diseases spread indoors and can improve ventilation design to keep people safer.
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Why is it important?
This study is the first to rigorously compare multiple URANS turbulence models across different regions of a sinusoidal exhaled jet, validated against time-resolved experimental data. It introduces new semi-empirical equations that capture how exhaled air velocity changes over time and space, critical for modeling short-range airborne transmission. With respiratory health still a global concern, this work offers timely insights for designing safer indoor environments.
Perspectives
As someone deeply invested in the intersection of fluid dynamics and public health, this paper represents a milestone in my research journey. It was born out of a desire to bridge the gap between theoretical modeling and real-world application, especially in the wake of global respiratory outbreaks. I am proud of how we balanced computational efficiency with empirical accuracy, and I hope this work empowers others to build smarter, healthier spaces.
Jibola Obafemi Owolabi
UiT - The Arctic University of Norway
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Modeling sinusoidal exhalation: An unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes-based approach for predicting breathing flow dynamics, Physics of Fluids, August 2025, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0277035.
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