The　fundamental　shear　horizontal(SH0)　wave　has　several　unique　features　that　are　attractive　for　long-range　nondestructive　testing(NDT).　By　a　careful　design　of　the　geometric　configuration,　electromagnetic　acoustic　transducers(EMATs)　have　the　capability　to　generate　a　wide　range　of　guided　wave　modes,　such　as　Lamb　waves　and　shear-horizontal(SH)　waves　in　plates.　However,　the　performance　of　EMATs　is　influenced　by　their　parameters.　To　evaluate　the　performance　of　periodic　permanent　magnet(PPM)　EMATs,　a　distributed-line-source　model　is　developed　to　calculate　the　angular　acoustic　field　cross-section　in　the　far-field.　Numerical　analysis　is　conducted　to　investigate　the　performance　of　such　EMATs　with　different　geometric　parameters,　such　as　period　and　number　of　magnet　arrays,　and　inner　and　outer　coil　widths.　Such　parameters　have　a　great　influence　on　the　directivity　of　the　generated　SH0　waves　that　arises　mainly　in　the　amplitude　and　width　of　both　main　and　side　lobes.　According　to　the　numerical　analysis,　these　parameters　are　optimized　to　obtain　better　directivity.　Optimized　PPM　EMATs　are　designed　and　used　for　NDT　of　strip　plates.　Experimental　results　show　that　the　lateral　boundary　of　the　strip　plate　has　no　perceivable　influence　on　SH0-wave　propagation,　thus　validating　their　used　in　NDT.　The　proposed　model　predicts　the　radiation　pattern　of　PPM　EMATs,　and　can　be　used　for　their　parameter　optimization.