Remote field eddy current testing (RFECT) can detect defects in ferromagnetic pipes without requiring a couplant and contact with the pipe wall. Because the response in the remote field zone is extremely low, testing
requires high-sensitivity detection to sense low magnetic fields. Therefore, a magnetic circuit design comprising a RFECT system is necessary for excitation and reception. In this study, a RFECT system using a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor is proposed, and magnetic circuits with magnets and/or yokes are designed and optimized for improved reception. To investigate the characteristics of the designed RFECT system, finite element analysis (FEA) and experiments are performed on various magnetic circuit system configurations. System performance is verified with respect to sensitivity and the detectability of defect characterizations in 4-inch
ferromagnetic pipelines having different defect sizes. Consequently, the magnetic circuit system using the permalloy yoke shows the highest sensitivity, thus achieving effective RFECT detection.