Excitation　and　reception　methods　of　the　longitudinal　guided　wave　modes　in　steel　strands　based　on　magnetostrictive　effect　are　analyzed　theoretically　and　verified　in　the　experiment.　Propagation　characteristics　of　longitudinal　modes　in　a　17.80　mm　nominal　diameter　steel　strand　are　firstly　investigated.　L(0,　1)　mode　at　160　kHz　in　one　of　helical　wires　is　optimized　for　health　inspection　of　the　steel　strand.　Based　on　propagation　characteristics　of　this　mode　and　peripheral　winding　surface　of　steel　strands,　a　kind　of　special　magnetostrictive　transducer　is　developed　for　ultrasonic　guided　wave　inspection　of　seven-wire　steel　strands.　The　transducer　mainly　consists　of　axisymmetric　three　permanent　bias　magnetic　circuits　and　a　three-section　spiral　tube　with　reverse　normal　winding　directions.　These　axisymmetric　circuits　are　used　for　producing　bias　magnetic　field　with　suitable　and　uniform　strength,　and　the　special　clamp　groups　are　designed　for　reducing　air　reluctance　caused　by　irregular　contour　of　steel　strands.　Effective　axial　width　of　each　section　of　spiral　tube　equals　to　half　wavelength　of　L(0,　1)　mode　at　160　kHz.　By　using　these　developed　magnetostrictive　transducers,　guided　wave　excitation　and　reception　are　achieved　in　a　1180　mm　long　free　steel　strand.　Experimental　results　show　that　chosen　L(0,　1)　mode　can　be　excited　and　received　by　using　developed　magnetostrictive　transducers.　These　transducers　will　provide　the　experimental　basis　for　ultrasonic　guided　wave　inspection　of　steel　strands　based　on　magnetostrictive　effect.　©　2010　Journal　of　Mechanical　Engineering.