Pulse echo flaw detection systems have found extensive use in industry for quality control of many types of metal and ceramic components. The random signal flaw detection system described in this paper provides an increase in sensitivity of several orders of magnitude compared to conventional pulse echo systems.

Following a review of the theory of system operation, we present some recently obtained results of our system on materials which are strongly sound absorbing, including ceramics, plastics and metals as well as material s which have large grains. In addition to detecting flaws in strongly absorbing materials we feel that this system might also be utilized as a way of estimating grain size, inclusion size or porosity.