A topological graph is a graph drawn in the plane. A topo-logical graph is k-plane, k > 0, if each edge is crossed at most k times. We study the problem of partitioning the edges of a k-plane graph such that each partite set forms a graph with a simpler structure. While this problem has been studied for k = 1, we focus on optimal 2-plane and 3-plane graphs, which are 2-plane and 3-plane graphs with maximum density. We prove the following results. (ⅰ) It is not possible to partition the edges of a simple optimal 2-plane graph G into a 1-plane graph and a forest, while (ⅱ) an edge partition of G formed by a 1-plane graph and two plane forests always exists and can be computed in linear time. (ⅲ) We describe efficient algorithms to partition the edges of G into a 1-plane graph and a plane graph with maximum vertex degree 12, or with maximum vertex degree 8 if G is such that its crossing-free edges form a graph with no separating triangles. (ⅳ) We exhibit an infinite family of simple optimal 2-plane graphs such that in any edge partition composed of a 1-plane graph and a plane graph, the plane graph has maximum vertex degree at least 6. (ⅴ) We show that every optimal 3-plane graph whose crossing-free edges form a biconnected graph can be decomposed into a 2-plane graph and two plane forests.
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