Investigation of the robustness of time reversal acoustics in solid media through the reconstruction of temporally symmetric sources

We investigate some of the limitations of time reversal acoustics (TRA) in solid media with transducers attached to the surface. In particular, we consider the limitations due to the finite size of the transducers and elastic wave propagation. Using a theoretical approach, numerical simulations and validation from laboratory ultrasound experiments, we find that finite size transducers and the existence of longitudinal and shear waves play significant roles in perturbing the time reversal process. Despite these limitations, we show that TRA in solids is very robust, providing the means to reconstruct the main features of the source signal. The analysis of TRA retro-focusing properties in solid specimens is of foremost importance for the development of new non-destructive evaluation techniques.