An approach of constructing mixed-level orthogonal arrays of strength ⩾ 3

Orthogonal arrays (OAs), mixed level or fixed level (asymmetric or symmetric), are useful in the design of various experiments. They are also a fundamental tool in the construction of various combinatorial configurations. In this paper, we establish a general “expansive replacement method” for constructing mixedlevel OAs of an arbitrary strength. As a consequence, a positive answer to the question about orthogonal arrays posed by Hedayat, Sloane and Stufken is given. Some series of mixed level OAs of strength ⩾ 3 are produced.