Goodarz Ahmadi
Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Clarkson University
Will present a talk titled:
Computational Modeling of Aerosol Transport – Application to Transmission of COVID-19 in Indoor Environments
Abstract: Fluid mechanics of aerosol transport, deposition, and dispersion in environmental, Industrial, and biological flows are described. The mechanics of particles and droplets transport, dispersion in turbulent flows are discussed. Numerical airflow simulations using the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equation are outlined, and the advances in the stochastic models for simulation of instantaneous fluctuation velocity are described. The Lagrangian particle trajectory analysis method and diffusion model approach are described. The effects of various forces, including drag, lift, gravity, and Brownian, are discussed. Examples of computational modeling of gas-solid flows in ducts and pollutant transport in indoor and outdoor environments are presented. Particular attention is given to the dispersion and transport of airborne particles and droplets in turbulent airflows in connection with the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from an infected person. The current understanding of the droplet emission during sneezing, coughing, and speaking are discussed, and simplified exposure models are reviewed. It is shown that computational modeling provides an efficient tool for studying airflows in indoor environments and spreading virus-laden airborne droplets and the potential for the transmission of COVID-19. Examples of computational modeling of respiratory droplet concentration in classrooms and office spaces are presented. The influences of wearing masks and air ventilation are also discussed
Date: September 3, 2021
Time: 11:00 am
Location: ERC 102, Zoom address: https://clarkson.zoom.us/j/761986404
Bio: Goodarz Ahmadi is a Clarkson Distinguished Professor and Robert R. Hill Professor of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering at Clarkson University. Professor Ahmadi is a Fellow of ASME, ASTFE, ISME, and IAAM. He was the recipient of the 2016 ASME Freeman Scholar Award for Fluid Engineering, Clarkson University Lifetime Research Achievement Award, and University Distinguished Teaching Award. His research interests include multiphase flows, particle transport and deposition, turbulence, flow control, granular flows, air pollution, flow through porous and fractured media. He has 4 patents, authored 3 books, and over 730 publications in archival journals. In addition, he also has made numerous presentations, including 20 plenary and keynotes presentations at national and international technical conferences. He has been serving as the editor, editorial board and/or editorial advisory board of 12 international journals.