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Academic collection --- Theses

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A sneeze is a common reflex to protect invaders from entering the body, but it is also a symptom of a common cold. The aim of this study is to investigate the flow profile of mucus during sneezing and its physical and rheological properties. Next, the differences between the mucus of healthy individuals and people suffering a common cold can be compared and need to be linked to the spreading mechanisms. Experiments were performed on bovine mucin dissolved in a buffer, imitating human nasal mucus. Mucin is a macromolecule and one of the most important components of mucus. The flow profile of a sneeze can be compared to a jet-like airflow. First, the mucin concentration has an influence on both number of droplets formed and the generation of BOAS occurring. The largest droplet sizes seem to decrease with increasing mucin concentration. However, it should be noted that other macromolecules are not considered in this simplified mucin solution. Secondly, the mucus does show a shear thinning profile, a yield stress, and extensional behaviour as found in literature. This is probably due to the network formed by the macromolecules. The surface tension seems to be independent of concentration. In contrast, the shear viscosity profile increases with increasing concentration. The extensional properties even show a power law dependent increase. When linking a less transparent colour of mucus to a higher mucin concentration, it appears that mucus shows a higher macromolecule concentration during the first days suffering a common cold. Preventing the spread of viruses could thus be obtained by increasing the concentration of macromolecules in the nasal mucus. This means that less droplets will be formed which can be contained more efficiently.