The　conventional　magnetostrictive　sensor　(MsS)　employs　a　hard　sensing　coil　which　is　made　by　winding　electrical　wires　onto　a　plastic　bobbin.　The　conventional　MsS　is　hard　to　apply　for　practical　inspections　due　to　the　wire　winding　is　very　time-consuming　and　it　must　be　installed　to　the　seven-wire　steel　strand　via　free　ends.　Meanwhile,　a　hard　coil-based　MsS　is　difficult　to　have　a　central　frequency　in　megahertz-range　with　a　higher　accuracy　in　defects　detection.　An　innovative　flexible　printed　meander　coil　(FPMC)-based　MsS　is　presented　for　exciting　megahertz-range　longitudinal　guided　waves　in　seven-wire　steel　strands.　The　FPMC　employs　optimal　structural　parameters　after　analyzing　the　work　principle　of　the　multi-group　coils　configuration,　and　it　has　36　groups　of　coils　which　can　increase　the　excited　and　received　guided　waves　energy　based　on　superposition　principle.　It　can　be　wrapped　onto　the　twisted　surface　of　the　strands.　Therefore,　this　FPMC-based　MsS　is　potential　to　be　applied　for　in　situ　inspection.　The　obtained　experimental　results　verify　the　proposed　FPMC-based　MsS　can　excite　and　receive　megahertz-range　longitudinal　guided　waves　in　seven-wire　steel　strands,　having　a　central　frequency　of　1.20　MHz.　In　the　excited　guided　waves,　L　(0,　1)　and　L　(0,　3)　mode　are　the　dominated　components.　The　proposed　method　provides　a　certain　foundation　for　the　megahertz-range　MsS　design.　©　2011　Journal　of　Mechanical　Engineering.