Differential-geometric structures on three-webs composed of foliations of different dimensions (Q395164)

The paper under review is about general three-webs, that is triples \((S_1,S_2,S_3)\) of foliations obtained as follows: \(S_1\) and \(S_2\) are complementary \(p\)- and \(q\)-dimensional foliations of a \((p+q)\)-dimensional manifold \(X\), given by Pfaffian systems \(\omega^u=0, u= p+1,\ldots,p+q\) and \(\omega^a=0,a=1,\ldots,p\), and \(S_3\) is transversal to the other two foliations, given by a Pfaffian system \(\lambda_a^i\omega^a+\lambda_u^i\omega^u=0, i=r+1,\ldots,n\). For example, let \(X\subset {\mathbb R}^p, Y\subset {\mathbb R}^q, Z\subset {\mathbb R}^{p+q-r}\) and let \(f: X\times Y\to Z\) a smooth function such that \(\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}\) and \(\frac{\partial f}{\partial y}\) have maximal rank everywhere, then a three-web \(W(p,q,r)\) is formed on the manifold \(X\times Y\) by the three foliations \(x=\mathrm{const}., y=\mathrm{const}., z=f(x,y)=\mathrm{const}.\) In classical web theory, the case \(p=q=r\) had been considered by Blaschke and others. The general case was first investigated by \textit{M. A. Akivis} and \textit{V. V. Gol'dberg} [Sov. Math., Dokl. 13, 354--358 (1972); translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 203, 263--266 (1972; Zbl 0273.53015)], who wrote the structure equations, defined curvature and torsion tensors and revealed the geometric meaning of vanishing of the torsion tensor and certain of its subtensors. In the following time, a number of works about the differential-geometric (local) properties of various special cases of three-webs appeared. The paper under review discusses several construction methods for general three-webs and some of their properties, such as their associative coordinate monoids.