The nature of large-scale correlations in plastic flow

The nature of large-scale correlations in the locations of the centers of plastic flow during the deformation of crystalline solids is discussed. It is shown that regularities in the generation and development of such centers can be described as various types of autowaves arising from processes of self-organization. Examples are presented of the excitation-wave and phase-wave types of autowave processes experimentally observed during the deformation of single-crystal and polycrystalline metals and alloys. Some numerical parameters of the autowave processes are estimated. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 1399–1403 (August 1996)