Aiming at the high requirement for pulse-repetition frequency of the existing single-beam synchronous scanning circumferential detection, which is difficult to use practically. The method of single-beam expanding scanning laser circumferential detection is proposed. Based on the principle of single-beam expanding scanning laser circumferential detection, the mode of scanning has an inherent defect of periodic detection blind area in the detection field. The method of one-way spreading laser line beam into fan-shaped beam is proposed. The analytical expression of the lowest scanning frequency and the pulse frequency are derived. Echo characteristics of cylindrical target and the section attenuation coefficient are analyzed. Mathematic model of cylindrical target echo power of pulsed expanding laser beam is established. The mathematical model of section attenuation coefficient of cylindrical object is established, and the variation of the section attenuation coefficient when the center line and the edge of the beam have different positions relative to the cylindrical target is analyzed. The expression of the position having the smallest section attenuation coefficient and the expression of largest angle between the adjacent pulse laser beams are obtained, then the influence of system parameters on the section attenuation coefficient is also discussed. The emphasis is placed on the influence of pulse frequency, beam angle and incidence angle on the ability to detect different diameter targets. As the laser pulse frequency increases, the detectable target diameter is smaller and the detection ability is stronger. Increasing the beam angle and lowering the laser incident angle are beneficial to reducing the minimum laser pulse frequency required to discover the target. The methods of calculating maximum beam angle and minimum pulse frequency under typical conditions of the detection system are presented. When the incident angles are ${\text{π}}/3$ , ${\text{π}}/4$ and ${\text{π}}/6$ , the maximum beam angle and the lowest pulse frequency are calculated for a cylindrical target with a diameter of 0.18 m at a detection distance of 6 m, the minimum pulse frequency decreases effectively after beam expansion. The results show that the pulse repetition frequency will be effectively reduced by slightly expanding the beam. This study may provide theoretical basis for designing and optimizing the single-beam pulsed laser circumferential detection.