For　the　excitation　and　reception　of　ultrasonic　longitudinal　guided　waves　in　steel　strands　efficiently,　the　configuration　of　spiral　tube　as　the　sensing　element　of　magnetostrictive　transducer　is　optimized,　Furthermore,　the　experiments　are　achieved　to　verify　the　optimization　of　the　transducers.　Excitation　and　reception　method　of　the　longitudinal　modes　in　the　steel　strands　based　on　magnetostrictive　effect　is　analyzed　theoretically.　L(0,　1)　mode　at　160kHz　is　chosen　for　the　inspection　of　seven-wire　steel　strands　with　a　17.80　mm　nominal　diameter.　Magnetostrictive　transducer　is　designed　and　implemented　for　excitation　and　reception　of　this　guided　wave　mode.　By　comparison　with　others＇　different　lengths　and　winding　directions,　three-section　spiral　tube　with　reverse　normal　winding　directions　is　suitable　for　being　the　sensing　element　of　developed　magnetostrictive　transducer.　For　validating　the　inspection　ability　of　this　type　of　transducers,　they　are　used　for　artificial　defect　detection　in　one　of　helical　wires　of　steel　strand.　Received　experimental　signals　show　that　the　defect　can　be　detected　and　located　well,　which　provides　a　basis　for　health　monitoring　of　steel　strands　by　ultrasonic　guided　wave　technique.