In ToFD (Time of Flight Diffraction), lateral wave removal is a technique used to eliminate or reduce the effects of lateral waves on the ultrasonic signals used to detect and size defects in materials. Lateral waves are waves that travel parallel to the surface of the material being tested, and can interfere with the measurements and calculations used in ToFD.

To remove or reduce the effects of lateral waves, special filters and algorithms are used to process the ultrasonic signals and eliminate the components that are due to lateral waves. This can improve the accuracy and reliability of the ToFD measurements and calculations, and make it easier to detect and size defects in the material.

Lateral wave removal is an important aspect of ToFD, and requires specialized knowledge and expertise to perform effectively.