We present a novel application of the spall technique for measuring the strength of metallic coatings including the adhesive strength on a metal substrate. We have utilized the capability of the pulsed high-power proton beam of the Karlsruhe Light Ion Facility to generate short, intense pressure pulses. Due to the bell-shaped beam power profile, spall fracture inside the samples occurred at different distances from the surface, including the interface between coating and substrate. Using a line-imaging laser-Doppler velocimeter, we were able to measure the free surface velocity histories for a whole range of load parameters in each single experiment. ©2000 American Institute of Physics.