On the myth of plastic waves

Abstract
Using a Malvern type stress-strain relationship, we show that dynamic elastic-plastic deformation processes can be viewed as a change in the mode of transfer of elastic energy. The result is in support of the view advocated by Gilman for many years that plastic flow is a transport phenomenon. It is shown that in the case of axially impacting rods, plastic response is characterized by a single, diffusion-like parameter.