Pulsed eddy current testing (PECT) is a nondestructive testing (NDT) technique based on electromagnetic induction. Utilizing transient high-energy pulse excitation to generate broadband eddy currents, enabling the inspection of thick, coated, or multilayer structures. This paper first provides a concise overview of PECT technology, emphasizing the urgent need for deep-layer defect detection and reliability assessment in aerospace, nuclear power, and petrochemical industries. It then systematically reviews the fundamental principles and technical characteristics of PECT, examines current research hotspots and frontier developments. This paper compares the contributions of major international research groups and industrial organizations, and analyzes key technical challenges and future development trends. Through literature comparison and representative case analysis, particular emphasis is placed on the latest progress in probe design, defect detection under multilayer protective barriers, feature extraction, and quantitative evaluation. Despite its promising capabilities, PECT faces critical challenges in both theoretical research and engineering applications, including inadequate robustness, a lack of standardized experimental protocols, and limited on-site adaptability. Future research directions may focus on developing intelligent inspection systems, integrating multi-parameter sensing technologies, and deploying remote monitoring and diagnostic applications within Internet of Things (IoT) environments.
Lu et al. (Mon,) studied this question.