The　temporal-spatial　focusing　effect　of　the　time-reversal　method　on　the　guided　wave　inspection　in　pipes　was　investigated　theoretically　in　the　current　research　with　a　transfer　function.　The　amplitude　of　the　time-reversed　wave　propagating　along　the　pipes　was　not　only　determined　by　the　characteristics　of　the　defect　and　the　location　for　observation　but　also　by　the　location　of　the　time-reversal　transducers.　Especially,　the　quantity　of　transducers　distributed　around　the　pipe　in　the　circumferential　direction　was　found　to　be　important　in　applying　such　time-reversal　method.　The　results　demonstrate　that　the　time-reversal　method　can　be　used　to　enhance　the　inspection　energy　for　the　guided　wave　inspection　in　pipes　and　to　locate　the　defects　in　the　circumferential　directions.　Once　the　time-reversed　signals　obtained　from　the　guided　wave　inspection　are　applied　on　a　numerical　model,　the　defects　can　be　recognized　by　the　motion　of　the　time-reversed　wave　transmitting　along　the　pipe　model.　Numerical　simulation　and　experimental　results　are　provided　in　this　paper　to　illustrate　the　validity　of　such　defect-identifying　method.