Laser ultrasound system and method for inspection of a contoured structure

A non-destructive evaluation system comprising:

• a nanoscopic structure generation module configured to generate an array of nanoscopic structures on a surface of a structure to be evaluated such that nanoscopic structures of the array of nanoscopic structures are formed directly on the structure or on a carrier film that is affixed to the structure so that the nanoscopic structures are integrally formed on the structure or the carrier film that is affixed to the structure and depend from, so as to be stationarily fixed to and form a unitary member with, the structure or the carrier film that is affixed to the structure and respective free ends of the nanoscopic structures of the array of nanoscopic structures extend from the surface in a predetermined directional orientation;
• and
• a laser ultrasound testing system configured to direct incident energy into the structure to be evaluated through the array of nanoscopic structures so that a configuration of the array of nanoscopic structures is configured to direct the incident energy into the structure in a predetermined direction defined by the predetermined directional orientation of the array of nanoscopic structures, and a pulsed laser beam of the laser ultrasound testing system is moved across the surface of the structure and ultrasonic waves reflected by the structure are detected.