A novel technique for visualizing ultrasonic waves in general solid media by pulsed laser scan

This study proposes a novel technique to visualize ultrasonic waves propagated in a general solid medium. A specimen was scanned by a pulsed laser for generation of ultrasound, and the propagated waves were received by a fixed transducer. This technique then provided a snapshot of traveling waves based on the reversibility for the wave propagation, which is confirmed in this paper. We experimentally and numerically investigated and visualized the wave propagation in a steel plate with a slit. Furthermore, we demonstrated inspection of an elbow pipe with an artificial defect, as an application of the proposed technique to a structural component. Non-contact laser scanning for ultrasound excitation enabled us to inspect a wide area of an arbitrarily shaped object. The distinguishing advantages of this technique were determined to be well-suited to the quick and easy wide-range inspection of real structures.