Nondestructive testing is a method of inspecting particular target objects without destructing them in industrial sites. Infrared thermal imaging is one of the nondestructive testing techniques. Among them, lock-in infrared thermography technique is a technique to detect a defect by generating a temperature difference of an object using periodic heat waves. This paper deals with the development of lock-in infrared thermography technique by using numerical analysis model for SM45C metal specimens. As a result, the appropriate frequency was determined for defect detection in SM45C metal specimen by using the established thermal behavior mechanism by periodic heat wave.