Ultrasonic　guided　wave　(UGW)　is　a　promising　technique　for　nondestructive　testing　of　pre-stressed　multi-wire　structures,　such　as　steel　strand　and　wire　rope.　The　understanding　of　the　propagation　behaviours　of　UGW　in　these　structures　is　a　priority　to　applications.　In　the　present　study,　first　the　properties　of　the　UGW　missing　frequency　band　in　the　pre-stressed　seven-wire　steel　strand　is　experimentally　examined.　The　high　correlation　between　the　observed　results　and　the　previously　published　findings　proves　the　feasibility　of　the　magnetostrictive　sensor　(MsS)　based　testing　method.　The　evolution　of　missing　frequency　band　of　UGW　in　slightly　tensioned　steel　strand　is　discussed.　Two　calibration　equations　representing　the　relationship　between　the　missing　band　parameters　and　the　tensile　force　are　given　to　derive　a　new　tensile　force　measurement　method,　which　is　capable　of　measuring　an　incremental　of　stress　of　approximately　3　MPa.　Second,　the　effects　of　tensile　force　on　the　UGW　propagation　behaviours　in　three　types　of　complicated　steel　wire　ropes　are　alternatively　investigated　based　on　the　short　time　Fourier　transform　(STFT)　results　of　the　received　direct　transmission　wave　(DTW)　signals.　The　observed　inherent　missing　frequency　band　of　the　longitudinal　mode　UGW　in　the　pre-stressed　steel　wire　rope　and　its　shifting　to　a　higher　frequency　range　as　the　increases　of　the　applied　tensile　force　are　reported　for　the　first　time.　The　influence　of　applied　tensile　force　on　the　amplitude　of　the　DTW　signal　and　the　unique　UGW　energy　jump　behaviour　observed　in　a　wire　rope　of　16.0　mm,　6　x　Fi(29)　+　IWRC　are　also　investigated,　despite　the　fact　that　they　cannot　yet　be　explained.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.