3-Designs from all Z4-Goethals-like codes with block size 7 and 8

We construct a family of simple 3-(2(m), 8, 14(2(m) - 8)/3) designs, with odd m >= 5, from all Z(4)-Goethals-like codes G(k). In addition, these designs imply the existence of other design families with the same parameters as the designs constructed from the Z(4)-Goethals code G(1), i.e. the designs with a block size 7 by Shin, Kumar, and Helleseth and the designs with a block size 8 by Ranto. In the existence proofs we count the number of solutions to certain systems of equations over finite fields and use properties of Dickson and linearized polynomials. Also, the nonequivalence of the designs from different Goethals-like codes is considered. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.