Articles techniques et présentations

Laser ultrasonic testing (LUT) has emerged as a powerful non‑contact inspection technique capable of generating and detecting ultrasonic waves using laser energy. Unlike conventional ultrasonic methods that rely on physical transducers, LUT enables remote, high‑resolution measurements on components with complex geometries, elevated temperatures, or limited accessibility. This makes it particularly attractive for advanced manufacturing sectors such as aerospace, energy, and additive manufacturing, where traditional inspection approaches can be intrusive or impractical. The LUT system owned by MTC involves a pulsed laser to excite ultrasonic waves through thermoelastic or ablation mechanisms, followed by a detection system using another laser to capture the returning surface displacements. The resulting A‑scan signals provide insight into material integrity, internal defects, and microstructural features.

Despite its advantages, LUT remains challenging to deploy widely due to the complexity of the underlying physics and the sensitivity of the signals to material properties, laser parameters, and surface conditions. Accurate modelling is therefore essential to understand wave generation, propagation, and detection, and to support the design of reliable inspection procedures. The work presented in this report focuses on developing a multi-physics LUT model that captures the key physical processes governing laser ultrasonic generation and response. By benchmarking the predictions from the LUT model against a previously developed finite element model, the study establishes confidence in its predictive capability.

To support practical adoption, the project also includes the development of a standalone executable application that enables users to run rapid simulations and generate A‑scans without requiring specialist modelling expertise. This tool provides an accessible interface for exploring geometry effects, designing inspection setups (detection/generation laser settings), and performing preliminary assessments for components with and without defects, thereby bridging the gap between advanced simulation capability and real‑world inspection needs.