Abstract. The plastic flow of metals and alloys in a single-crystal and a polycrystalline state involves processes in which different types of wave are generated. In the easy-glide and linear work-hardening stages of flow, waves of new type are found to propagate. The motion velocity of these waves is found to be inversely proportional to the work-hardening coefficient. An attempt is made to relate the new wave type to the self-organisation phenomena observable in deforming crystals. The propagation rate of these waves is shown to depend on the energy flow through the specimen tested. The space period of the local strains region is proportional to the logarithm of the specimen length.