  This paper presents bar strength measurements for a sample of 180 galaxies,
based on the H-band images of the Ohio State University Bright Galaxy Survey
(Eskridge et al. 2002, ApJS, 143, 73). We use a gravitational bar torque
method, where the ratio of the maximum tangential force to the mean
axisymmetric radial force is used as a quantitative measure of the bar
strength. Based on our Fourier analysis we found that nearly 70 % of the
galaxies classified as SAB-types in the near-IR might actually be non-barred
systems. We also found that ovals are capable of inducing tangential forces at
some level. The measurements of this study are used by Buta et al. (AJ, 127,
279) for the analysis of the distribution of bar strengths in spiral galaxies,
and by Laurikainen et al. (ApJ, 607, 103) to study the connection between bar
strength and nuclear activity.
