Elastic wave scattering methods: Assessments and suggestions

Elastic wave scattering methods were reviewed and assessed for the past ten years to suggest areas of future research opportunities. Developments are highlighted, focusing on distinct steps forward in the theoretical understanding of how elastic waves interact with flaws. For references and illustrative figures, it was decided to use as a principal source the proceedings of the various annual Reviews of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE). These meetings have been the main forum not only for presenting results of theoretical research but also for demonstrating the relevance of the theoretical research for the design and interpretation of experiment. A quantitative NDE is possible only if this relevance exists, and the major objective is to discuss and illustrate the degree to which relevance has developed.