A software application to predict local scale wind conditions in the Port of Amsterdam

The present paper presents a software application aimed at predicting the local scale wind conditions in the so-called IJmuiden sea lock. It is based on the results of 3D steady RANS simulations with reference to the mean wind speed and direction at the reference KNMI anemometric station. The CFD results of 24 wind directions (θ) were validated with on-site measurements with four 2D ultrasonic anemometers for a period of one year. A satisfactory agreement was found between simulated and measured data in terms of local wind speed and wind direction; in both cases 91% of the simulated data fell within ±30% from the measured da- ta. A less satisfactory agreement was found between the simulated and the measured data of tur- bulence intensity, for which 76% of simulated data fell in a range of ±30% with respect to the measured data. Overall, the 3D steady RANS approach showed an accurate assessment of local wind conditions in the port area under neutral atmospheric conditions.