In　this　work,　a　detection　method　for　the　damage　in　plate-like　structure　with　a　compact　rectangular　phased　piezoelectric　transducer　array　of　16　piezoelectric　elements　was　presented.　This　compact　array　can　not　only　detect　and　locate　a　single　defect　(through　hole)　in　plate,　but　also　identify　multi-defects　(through　holes　and　surface　defect　simulated　by　an　iron　pillar　glued　to　the　plate).　The　experiments　proved　that　the　compact　rectangular　phased　transducer　array　could　detect　the　full　range　of　plate　structures　and　implement　multiple-defect　detection　simultaneously.　The　processing　algorithm　proposed　in　this　paper　contains　two　parts:　signal　filtering　and　damage　imaging.　The　former　part　was　used　to　remove　noise　from　signals.　Continuous　wavelet　transform　was　applicable　to　signal　filtering.　Continuous　wavelet　transform　can　provide　a　plot　of　wavelet　coefficients　and　the　signal　with　narrow　frequency　band　can　be　easily　extracted　from　the　plot.　The　latter　part　of　processing　algorithm　was　to　implement　damage　detection　and　localization.　In　order　to　accurately　locate　defects　and　improve　the　imaging　quality,　two　images　were　obtained　from　amplitude　and　phase　information.　One　image　was　obtained　with　the　Total　Focusing　Method　(TFM)　and　another　phase　image　was　obtained　with　the　Sign　Coherence　Factor　(SCF).　Furthermore,　an　image　compounding　technique　for　compact　rectangular　phased　piezoelectric　transducer　array　was　proposed　in　this　paper.　With　the　proposed　technique,　the　compounded　image　can　be　obtained　by　combining　TFM　image　with　SCF　image,　thus　greatly　improving　the　resolution　and　contrast　of　image.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.