We propose a new approach for assessing microstructural properties of materials via nondestructive testing (NDT). This approach lies on the observation that, accounting for the microstructure within the materials, reveals a nonclassical band propagation pattern for Love waves. Precisely this propagation structure may be directly related to the internal microstructure. To illustrate this, propagation of Love waves is first investigated within the linear theory of couple stress materials with micro-inertia. Proving wave existence by the argument principle provides a closed-form condition for propagation to occur. This connection defines propagation bands, whose limits correspond to the situation when Love waves move with the same speed as bulk waves in the underlying half-space (internal resonance). This condition is closely related to the layer-to-substrate microstructure and it may be used to assess either of the two. Furthermore, we show that the frequency equation is a three-term combination of antiplane Rayleigh and Rayleigh–Lamb functions (in a free and in a free/clamped plate). Consequently, investigation of any extra observable, such as Rayleigh waves, reduces the risk of multiple solutions at the signal processing stage. We finally consider the limit as either the half-space or the layer becomes classical elastic. We show that this unseemly bonding of dissimilar models, sometimes adopted in the literature, usually leads to inconsistencies.
