Title: Mask usage: a mechanical investigation of COVID-19 mask design

Authors: Fatima Z. Mgaedeh; Richard T. Stone; Mohammad AlZwateen; Colten Fales; Esraa Saleh Abdelall

Addresses: Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Iowa State University, 3004 Black Engineering, 2529 Union Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA; Department of Industrial Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan ' Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA ' Department of Civil Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan ' Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan

Abstract: Protecting healthcare workers requires them to wear face masks, which have been demonstrated to dramatically impair human performance. This study aimed to investigate the impact of various mask types under several breathing conditions. A human breathing simulator was developed to measure the effect of wearing different mask types (N95, KN95, surgical mask, cotton mask with exhalation valve, cotton mask) and workloads (medium 30 L/min, high 85 L/min, strenuous 135 L/min). In this study, human performance measures include mask temperature, relative humidity, and heat index. Results showed that the N95 mask aggregated the highest temperature and heat index over time, and the cotton mask with an exhalation valve was the lowest. The relative humidity was 99.9% over the time where it reached saturation. The findings of this study establish a methodology for assigning medical tools (face masks) to professionals based on their work conditions.

Keywords: breathing simulator; COVID-19 face mask; engineering design; human performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2023.135482

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2023 Vol.10 No.4, pp.331 - 349

Received: 18 Aug 2022
Accepted: 13 Feb 2023
Published online: 14 Dec 2023 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article