Laser-based Non-destructive Evaluation

John S. Popovics Summary Lasers are devices that create a high intensity, directed light beam. The light beam can travel in air or through fiber optic cables. Lasers can be used to generate waves and detect stretching or motion in a solid material without direct contact with the material. Thus lasers are useful in many important engineering applications that require remote non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and sensing such as laser ultrasonics, “smart” structures and vibration sensing. In this lesson, necessary basic concepts about light, lasers, fiber optics and wave propagation are introduced. The basis of wave generation and sensing with lasers is given. Finally specific engineering applications that make use laser-based techniques are described.