Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Lab OPEN COVID-19 Community Uses Sneeze Simulation to Support PPE Design

Dassault Systèmes is using scientific simulation of the human sneeze to support the development of personal protective equipment (PPE) projects in the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab OPEN COVID-19 online community, as part of collaborative efforts to quickly answer unmet urgent needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Sneezing is one way that pathogens, including COVID-19, spread.  The simulations are used to demonstrate what happens when a person sneezes, to better understand the effectiveness of different PPE being developed and deployed, and to aid in improving their design.  

Dassault Systèmes used its SIMULIA PowerFLOW simulation applications to develop a computational simulation of a sneeze to provide insight into the flow physics of sneezes.  SIMULIA is already widely used in the aerospace and automotive industries to generate a dynamic simulation of fluid and air flow.  

The scientific simulation of a sneeze using SIMULIA is based on published data including gas velocity as a function of time exiting the mouth, as well as droplet particle size and distribution.  The result is a realistic model of a sneeze, demonstrated in a video that shows the trajectory of the various mucus particles emitted through the air while sneezing, and where the particles are deposited on the surfaces of a shielded individual, as well as small particles that are entrained behind a shield and come into close proximity of the shielded individual. The simulations are computationally efficient allowing for rapid exploration of design space that could include shield length, width, and the distance between individuals. 

Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Lab has launched multiple initiatives that leverage collaborative, collective intelligence from designers, engineers, scientists, makers and others – including simulation specialists – on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to rapidly source, qualify, design, engineer and manufacture solutions that can solve issues and benefit local hospitals during the pandemic.  

For more information on the scientific simulation results of a sneeze with different PPE in the OPEN COVID-19 community:  https://go.3ds.com/opencovid19 

Disclaimer for the above-referenced video:
© 2020 Dassault Systèmes. All rights reserved.
The simulation(s) by Dassault Systèmes and other technical or operational information represented in this video are presented as an illustration and are for informational purposes only.  Any use of information presented in or derived from this video is at the viewer’s sole risk and Dassault Systèmes disclaims all related liability.