National COVID Study Project

The University of Leeds Sorby Labs Suite (specialising in measurement of flows) was chosen as the experimental facility for the National COVID Study project, funded by the Health & Safety Executive. The project, led by Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics Deputy Director Prof Cath Noakes, combines expertise from the Schools of Earth and Environment, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Maths at the University of Leeds.  

The Sorby Labs facing element in Phase 1 is visualising the flow field inside a mask using a polystyrene head (SAM, ‘the Sorby Airflow Mannequin’).  Sorby established a novel experimental methodology to capture mechanisms of flow within and outside face masks. 

The outcomes will be reported to the SAGE committee.

For a video of the experiments check out the February 2021 tab at: https://geosolutions.leeds.ac.uk/work-with-us/sorby-lab/news/

The Sorby Labs Suite obtained a new FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera from Research England’s World Class Laboratories 2020/21 fund. The camera has a higher frame rate, is more sensitive and has a wider selection of lenses than the thermal camera SLS rented from FLIR for previous thermal camera work.

The FLIR thermal imaging camera has been used for Phase 1 of the National Covid Study, PI Prof Cath Noakes, which is funded by the Health & Safety Executive. The camera was used immediately on delivery to investigate face mask fit and airflow inside/around a range of face mask types. The outcomes of this project were reported to the SAGE committee.

Sorby's original videos have been used in articles published in El Pais and La Republica.