Method and system for detecting defects in the structure of a composite laminate material are described which comprise a first transducer for directing an ultrasonic beam of preselected frequency along a transmission axis onto a surface of the laminate at a preselected angle to generate Lamb waves in the laminate and leaky Lamb waves reflected therefrom; a second transducer for detecting the reflected leaky Lamb waves and for providing an output signal corresponding to the amplitude of the reflected waves; a fluid sonically coupling the laminate with the transducers; a positioning system for selectively positioning the transducers along the surface of the laminate to produce a set of output signals characterizing the laminate; and suitable electronics for receiving and processing the output signals and comparing them with signals characteristic of a defect free sample of the laminate.
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