Guided　wave　technique　has　great　potential　to　detect　flaws　in　parallel　wire　cable.　One　of　the　most　important　prerequisites　is　the　analysis　of　energy　transfer　characteristics　of　guided　wave　in　parallel　wire　cable.　Experimental　investigations　are　conducted　employing　magnetostrictive-based　inspection　system　to　reveal　the　energy　transfer　characteristics　of　L(0,1)　mode　in　multi-rod　system.　An　oscillation　phenomenon　of　wave　energy-transfer　among　the　active　and　passive　rods　is　observed　in　both　two-rod　and　multi-rod　system.　It　is　found　that　guided　wave　frequency　and　contact　effect　among　the　rods　are　the　main　factors　affecting　the　energy-transfer　characteristics.　In　order　to　explain　the　observed　experimental　phenomenon,　an　equivalent　multi-rod　model　together　with　energy-transfer　equation　is　developed　on　the　basis　of　a　spring-damper　model-based　two-rod　system.　The　coupled　radial　vibration　is　incorporated　in　the　modified　model,　and　the　calculated　results　can　qualitatively　predict　the　oscillation　phenomenon　observed　in　experiments.　©　2016　Journal　of　Mechanical　Engineering.