Topological invariance of intersection homology without sheaves (Q1060459)

A new approach to intersection homology groups defined by \textit{M. Goresky} and \textit{R. MacPherson} in [Topology 19, 135-165 (1980; Zbl 0448.55004)] is given. The author's construction can be applied to an arbitrary locally cone-like topological stratified set, that is a filtered space \(X_ 0\subset X_ 1\subset...\subset X_ n\) such that \(X_ i-X_{i-1}\) is an i-dimensional metrizable topological manifold for each i and some local condition for the stratum to be cone-like is satisfied. This approach doesn't use sheaf theory. Among the properties proved in the paper are excision, Künneth formula and topological invariance. If the stratified set is PL then the author's definition agrees with the PL intersection homologies of Goresky and MacPherson mentioned above.