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Early detection and monitoring of heavy load induced plastic deformation in the structure is crucial for timely intervention before cracking occurs and the material completely fails. Ultrasound can be used for detecting plastic deformation provided the mechanical modulus, which can be probed via changes in velocities. This work presents a measurement scheme that makes use of optically detected, laser-induced surface acoustic waves (SAWs) for remote, real-time, online monitoring of the wave velocity during the elastic–plastic transition occurring in an aluminum plate undergoing a uniaxial tensile test and a dynamic fatigue test. Monochromatic SAWs were photoacoustically generated in a wavelength-controlled way through a transient thermal grating based laser ultrasonics excitation scheme. The SAWs were detected by a home-built photorefractive interferometer. The results reveal both regions of acceleration and slowing down, indicating that the material first stiffens and then starts to form microcracks that make it behave effectively softer for propagating SAWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]