Exact solutions for inhomogeneous generalisations of some vacuum Bianchi models

Vacuum solutions for inhomogeneous generalisations of Bianchi models III, V and VIsub(h) are derived. The solutions generalise particular exact solutions previously obtained by earlier workers. As particular cases, general vacuum solutions are derived for homothetic models of types sub(f)III, sub(f)V and sub(f)VIsub(h). Some properties of the solutions are discussed, especially their singular or regular nature at the boundaries of the intervals of definition of the spacelike and timelike variables. In particular, doubts are cast on the interpretation of vacuum homothetic solutions as cosmological models. (author)