The　propagation　characteristics　of　Lamb　waves　can　be　changed　when　they　encounter　a　defect　in　plate　style　waveguides,　which　has　close　relationship　with　the　relative　distance　between　defects　position　and　the　propagation　paths　of　Lamb　waves　among　the　transducer.　A　defect　zone　imaging　method　based　on　propagation　paths　analysis　is　presented　to　realize　defect　zone　image　in　composite　plates.　To　obtain　enough　defects　information,　a　chirp　excitation　is　stimulated　by　piezoelectric　transducers,　then　abstract　tone　burst　responses　those　have　several　of　center　frequency　form　the　chirp　responses.　Through　comparing　the　peak　values　of　the　signal　envelops,　the　relationships　between　the　defect　and　propagation　paths　are　acquired.　The　paths　have　similar　propagation　velocities　with　paths　those　a　defect　located　are　chosen　as　interested　path,　then　calculating　elliptical　tracks　with　the　defect　scattering　signals　with　the　elliptical　imaging　algorithm.　The　error　tolerance　is　introduced　to　select　the　elliptical　tracks　calculated　with　difference　frequencies.　Detect　zone　image　is　realized　by　fusing　the　selected　elliptical　tracks.　The　feasibility　of　the　proposed　method　is　validated　with　experiments　in　a　composite　material　plate.　©　2016　Journal　of　Mechanical　Engineering.