Laser detection of elastic waves diffraction by the crack’s edge

Diffraction effects and features of acoustic wave propagation in elastic media with the surface-breaking microcrack were investigated in detail for the pulse probing signals. The crack’s plane was oriented along the direction of longitudinal ultrasonic wave incidence in such a way that the detection of the crack with such an unfavorable spatial location was difficult by means of traditional acoustic techniques. Using laser Doppler interferometer a set of instantaneous pictures of acoustic field on the specimen’s surface, corresponding to the different moments of time was obtained. This allowed us to investigate and visualize the diffraction effects of acoustic field in dynamics. Using numerical modeling of diffraction processes of acoustic waves on the crack’s edge and top for pulse signals the origin of V-like structures on the snapshots of acoustic fields was explained and analyzed.