The　configuration　of　magnetostrictive　transducers　for　both　transmitter　and　receiver　was　optimized　for　the　generation　and　reception　of　ultrasonic　longitudinal　guided　waves　in　seven-wire　steel　strands　in　a　pitch　catch　arrangement.　Three　axisymmetric　permanent　magnets　significantly　improved　the　capability　of　magnetostrictive　transducers　compared　to　two　permanent　magnets,　and　effectively　increased　the　amplitude　of　the　longitudinal　guided　wave　mode,　L(0,　1)　at　160　kHz.　Experimental　results　show　that　the　maximum　amplitude　of　a　received　guided　wave　signal　could　be　obtained　by　using　a　receiver　with　a　three-layer　coil　in　parallel　and　a　transmitter　with　a　three-layer　coil　in　series.　The　amplitudes　of　the　defect-reflected　signal　increased　by　as　much　as　50%　or　more　as　compared　with　those　when　both　transducers　used　a　single　layer　coil.　As　a　result,　magnetostrictive　transducers　with　an　optimized　configuration,　including　permanent　magnet　distribution　and　multilayer　coil　connection,　could　be　efficiently　used　for　the　inspection　of　seven-wire　steel　strands　by　using　ultrasonic　guided　waves　in　a　pitch　catch　arrangement.　(C)　2010　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.