The　characteristic　of　ultrasonic　propagation　and　determination　of　the　acoustic　propagation　path　with　ray　tracing　method　in　anisotropic　medium　have　been　implemented　for　the　safety　evaluation　of　austenitic　stainless　steel　weld.　Accordingly,　an　ultrasonic　array　Total　Focus　imaging　Method　(TFM)　for　defect　detection　in　anisotropic　welds　has　been　developed.　The　influence　of　material　on　the　ultrasonic　array　imaging　was　studied　by　numerical　simulation　and　experiment.　The　results　show　that　the　proposed　TFM　method　could　be　used　to　detect　defects　of　anisotropic　weld　with　smaller　location　error.　This　research　work　provides　a　feasible　technical　scheme　for　the　inspection　of　austenitic　stainless　steel　weld.　©　2019　Acta　Acustica.