Physics of Fluids generated in the Human Respiratory Cycle and Social Distancing in time of COVID-19

Lastovicka-Medin, G.; Pantovic, D.; Bozovic, I.; Doknic, J.

This study presents an experimental measurement of the airflow speed, generated in the exhalation phase from the human respiratory cycle, based on data from three human subjects. The results obtained demonstrate the transient character of the human respiratory cycle, in terms of measured speed at different points of man-generated exhalation air flow. Gender study and conditions such as diabetes were included. Using simple low-cost set up, with the integration of a face mask and visor, we managed to demonstrate transient character dependence on gender and health conditions, as well as the transmission of humidity and temperature in correlation with the face mask and visor. Further work would benefit from the inclusion of a thermal imaging camera that would additionally characterize the exhalation flow interaction of the participants with a convective boundary layer around the human body. © 2021 IEEE.