Abstract: In order to study transmission law of respiratory pathogens in aircraft cabin and to reduce infection risk of passengers, firstly, a simulation model of Boeing 737 cabin was established and validated by using Boeing 737 experimental cabin and PIV. Then, release process of respiratory pathogens through coughing and breathing of sick passengers was simulated based on the model and DPM (discrete phase model), from which pathogens' trajectory and velocity were obtained. Finally, infection risk of passengers was assessed with Wells-Riley model. The results show that when transmission time reaches 200 s, transmission distance between most respiratory pathogens is within 1 m. By changing seats of sick passengers and ventilation in aircraft cabin, infection risk of remaining passengers can be reduced, which is 7.7% when sick passenger is at position 3 and ventilation of aircraft cabin is 900 m³/h.

Key words: aircraft cabin, respiratory pathogens, propagation mechanism, infection risk, particle image velocimetry (PIV)