a new type of magnetoelastic device for sensing force is described . it comprises of two elements : a circumferentially magnetized member comprised of magnetoelastically active material mounted as a beam and loaded by the force to be sensed , and a magnetic field sensor mounted at or near the member &# 39 ; s surface , preferentially at or near a longitudinal location where the bending moment is maximum and at a circumferential location where the bending stress is zero . flexural loading causes a variation of the circumferential magnetization with angular position . this variation is the source of free poles , the field from which is a measure of the applied force . testing demonstrates that the field intensity is a linear analog of the experienced bending stress over a significant range of applied push and pull forces .