Synthetic　time-reverse　method　is　a　new　focusing　method　in　ultrasonic　guided　wave　inspection.　Aiming　at　the　problem　that　the　multi-channel　system　required　by　common　Time-reverse　Method　is　very　expensive　and　hard　to　build,　a　post-　acquire　signal　process　method　based　on　a　single-channel　system　is　used　to　improve　the　time-reverse　method.　The　effectiveness　of　the　synthetic　time-reverse　method　is　proved　through　numerical　simulation　and　experiment.　A　steel　pipe　of　2　m　long　and　114　mm　outer　diameter　with　an　artificial　defect　is　inspected　in　simulation　and　experiment.　According　to　the　result　of　the　simulation　and　the　experiment,　using　this　method,　the　normalized　amplitude　of　the　defect　is　6　times　increased,　and　the　wave　packet　of　the　defect　reflection　is　greatly　improved.　The　signal-noise-ratio　is　also　raised　from　0.0336　to　2.1656.　The　detection　capability　of　ultrasonic　guided　wave　can　be　improved　by　the　method.　©　2013　Journal　of　Mechanical　Engineering.