This paper briefly describes direct power control methods for two- and threelevel AC/DC converters and their modified DPC 3H 2-? and the DPC 5H2-? algorithms. It also presents two new control methods DPC-3Am (direct power control 3 areas with modification) and the DPC-3L-3Am (direct power control 3 levels 3 areas with modification). The research results were used to compare the described methods. The comparison was based on an average value of switching frequency and current distortion coefficient. Experimental investigations into the methods have shown that the use of the modified DPC methods reduces the number of switchings by more than 70% compared with the standard DPC method.
This paper presents the numerical part of the research program on concrete-filled steel columns. Nonlinear, three dimensional FE analysis of axial compression, was conducted using the finite element program ABAQUS. The numerical results were validated through comparison with experimental data in terms of ultimate loading and deformation modes. Modeling related problems such as the definition of boundary conditions, imperfections, concrete-steel interaction, material representation and others are investigated using a comprehensive parametric study. The developed FE models will be used for an enhanced interpretation of experiments and for the predictive study of cases not included in the experimental testing.