Different　kinds　of　defects,　such　as　corrosions,　notches　and　cracks　etc,　exist　in　pipes.　Mode　choice　is　important　since　unfortunately　not　all　ultrasonic　guided　wave　modes　are　suitable　for　these　kinds　of　defect　detection.　T(　0,　1)　mode　which　is　non-dispersive　is　the　lowest　and　fastest　torsional　mode　and　most　suitable　for　defect　detection　in　pipes.　Two　completely　different　artifical　defects　including　longitudinal　and　circumferential　defects　are　processed　successively　in　a　4-m-long,　60-mm-OD,　3.5-mm-wall　steel　pipe.　T(　0,　1)　mode　at　45　kHz　is　excited　to　detect　these　defects　using　thickness　shear　mode　piezoelectric　elements.　Experimental　results　show　that　two　kinds　of　defects　are　detectable　using　T(　0,　1)　mode.　Comparing　with　longitudinal　modes,　torsional　modes　are　dominant　in　pipe　inspection　for　their　sensitivities　to　different　kinds　of　defects.　(c)　2006　Published　by　Elsevier　B.　V.