This paper investigates the inspection and monitoring structural bends using a special ultrasonic bend-guided wave, which concentrates the energy in and around the bend. Modal studies are carried out using the Semi-Analytical Finite Element (SAFE) method, while 3D finite element (FE) simulations are used to gain visualization of results and also obtain cross-validation. Our studies reveal, perhaps for the first time, the possibility of bend-guided modes of the shear-horizontal (SH) family, in addition those of the Rayleigh-Lamb family reported earlier in the literature. This mode has attractive properties including low attenuation and limited dispersion. We investigate effects of plate thickness and bend radius on the physics of FGW in bends, arguing the strong role of geometry and curvature effects in causing mode confinement. Experiments have also been carried out to validate the existence of such bend-guided mode. Copyright © 2015 by DEStech Publica tions, Inc.