NUMEV Seminar: “Atomization and Aerosolization: A Fluid Mechanics Perspective.”

Atomization, or aerosolization as it is known in COVID-19 studies, is a striking example of the immense complexity of turbulence in multiphase flow. The theory of atomization begins with an examination of Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. Making these theories capable of predicting the length scales and frequencies observed in experiments is a surprisingly difficult task, and certain aspects are still being investigated through full three-dimensional simulations.

In recent years, numerical simulations and experiments have demonstrated the important role played by thin liquid sheets and filaments. Furthermore, the significance of aerosolization phenomena in the transmission of respiratory diseases has prompted specific experiments, such as those using the “cough machine.” In this setup, the impulsive airflow over a thin liquid layer can be studied. This makes it possible to investigate the influence of liquid viscosity on sheet thickness and droplet size.