Combining \(t\)-designs (Q1177945)

Combining designs, like extending them, is important in design theory. This method, besides yielding new designs, reveals the inner relations among designs. A theorem on combining \(t\)-designs with \(k=t+1\) is presented. Although the theorem is utilized to produce an infinite family of some interesting \(t\)-designs, the main concentration of the authors are the applications of the theorem to the problem of the spectrum of triple systems, which has recently come to the attention of some researchers. In this respect this theorem reveals some interesting and new results.