Recently,　a　magnetostrictive　patch　transducer　(MPT)　by　means　of　the　highly　magnetostrictive　(such　as　nickel　or　iron-cobalt　alloy)　patch　attached　on　the　specimen　has　been　applied　in　nondestructive　ultrasonic　testing　in　waveguides.　In　the　study,　we　proposed　a　new　MPTs　array　employing　a　multi-splitting　meander　coil　(MSMC)　for　generating　and　receiving　longitudinal　guided　waves　in　pipes.　In　the　suggested　configuration,　the　directions　of　the　static　magnetic　field　produced　by　the　permanent　magnets　and　the　dynamic　magnetic　field　produced　by　the　MSMC　are　in　the　axial　direction　of　the　pipe.　Two　finite　element　models　were　established　to　simulate　the　distribution　of　the　static　and　dynamic　magnetic　fields　in　the　patch,　respectively.　The　proposed　MSMC　was　made　of　flexible　printed　circuit　(FPC),　so　it　could　be　easily　installed　on　pipe　surface.　The　performance　of　the　proposed　MPTs　array　was　experimentally　studied.　Firstly,　it　was　experimentally　verified　that　the　axisymmetric　longitudinal　guided　wave　mode,　L(0,2),　could　be　effectively　generated　and　received　in　pipes　with　the　developed　MSMC-MPTs　array.　Secondly,　the　frequency　response　characteristics　of　the　developed　MSMC-MPTs　array　were　related　to　D　(the　distance　between　adjacent　belts　of　the　MSMC).　Thirdly,　we　demonstrated　the　ability　of　the　developed　MSMC-MPTs　array　for　the　identification　and　location　of　a　crack　defect　in　pipes.　Finally,　we　compared　the　performances　of　the　MSMC-MPTs　array　and　conventional　meander　coil-MPTs　and　proved　that　the　signals　of　the　longitudinal　guided　wave　mode　could　be　enhanced　by　using　the　developed　MSMC-MPTs　array.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.