The　adhesive　layer　between　an　ultrasonic　transducer　and　a　circular　tube　can　generate　a　nonlinear　signal　during　guided　wave　excitation　and　reception,　which　is　called　adhesive　nonlinearity　(AN).　It　may　override　the　damage-related　signals　and　result　in　false　detection　if　not　adequately　evaluated　and　mitigated.　This　study　investigated　the　AN　of　the　guided　wave　excitation　model　composed　of　a　piezoelectric　array　in　a　circular　tube　structure.　The　classical　shear　stress　lag　model　was　extended　to　the　circumference　pasted　piezoelectric　array-based　nonlinear　shear　stress　lag　model　to　investigate　the　coupling　properties　of　the　AN　and　to　evaluate　the　AN　by　comparing　it　with　other　nonlinear　factors　within　a　circular　tube　structure.　On　this　basis,　the　nonlinear　shear　stress　was　combined　with　the　normal　mode　expansion　to　establish　a　frequency　tuning　model　for　the　AN,　which　allowed　the　effect　of　the　AN　to　be　minimized　by　adjusting　the　half-wavelength　of　the　guided　wave　to　match　the　length　of　the　actuator.　Finite-element　analyses　and　experiments　validated　the　tuning　characteristics　of　the　AN　mentioned　above.　This　work　was　used　to　mitigate　the　effect　of　the　AN　on　the　nonlinear　guided　wave　during　thermal　damage　evaluation.　©　2025　Author(s).