Permanent　magnet　is　widely　used　as　one　of　the　three　elements　of　electromagnetic　acoustic　transducer　(magnet,　coil,　tested　specimen).　However,　due　to　the　immutability　and　non-uniformity　of　the　permanent　magnet　magnetic　field,　the　electromagnetic　acoustic　transducer　(EMAT)　will　produce　other　unwanted　modes,　which　will　affect　the　purity　of　the　targeted　mode　in　signals.　Therefore,　the　multi-mode　problem　of　EMAT　is　still　an　important　issue　to　be　solved.　In　order　to　solve　this　problem,　a　new　type　of　directional　magnetic-concentrator-type　electromagnetic　acoustic　transducer　(D-MC-EMAT)　is　proposed　to　generate　a　single　S-0　mode　in　plates.　The　magnetic　concentrator　is　added　to　the　traditional　EMAT　to　guide　and　concentrate　the　magnetic　field　generated　by　the　magnet　and　remove　the　unwanted　A(0)　mode.　Both　finite　element　simulation　and　experiments　proved　that　the　mode　selectivity　of　proposed　D-MC-EMAT　improved　by　adding　the　magnetic　concentrator,　and　transducer　characteristics　and　defect　inspection　experiments　were　carried　out.　Finally,　the　structure　of　D-MC-EMAT　was　optimized　by　an　orthogonal　experiment　and　the　optimal　parameter　combination　was　confirmed.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.