According to the thermoelastic equations and heat conduction equations of laser-generated acoustic surface wave (SAW), the SAW propagation images are obtained by taking finite element solutions to the equations. When the SAW propagates through the aluminum plate with the near-surface defects at different depths, producing an oscillating effect between the surface acoustic wave and the near-surface defects, and then there is a gradual decrease after the gradual decrease of the oscillation waves as getting through the near-surface defect. When the SAW propagates through the aluminum plate with the near-surface defect at different depth, there is a certain variation of the center frequency of the oscillation waves. Simulation results show that, when the depth of near-surface defect changes from 0.1 to 0.5 mm, the center frequency of the oscillation signal generated by the oscillation effect changes from 0.4 to 0.76 MHz, and the center frequency of the oscillation signal is seriously attenuated with increasing width of the near-surface defect, thus providing a theoretical basis for quantitative detection of the near-surface defects.