Visualization of Elastic Waves Propagating on a Solid Surface with Fatigue Cracks by Laser Ultrasonic Technology

We have developed a laser ultrasonic system for visualization of elastic waves propagating on a solid surface, in order to visualize ultrasonic waves propagating on opaque media. This system can produce a series of successive images as an animation of wave propagation, because of scanning an optical heterodyne probe to measure surface transient displacements. Using this visualization technique, we observed the scattering and diffraction of ultrasonic waves around various shapes of artificial defects, and examined its application to nondestructive inspection. This imaging system provides various kinds of visualization images such as propagation image, amplitude image, arrival time image and velocity image. We have been confident that this technique is available for nondestructive inspection and materials ...