Local structural instability and formation of hot spots in materials under mechanical loading

We have studied the formation of hot spot in materials under high-speed loading using the method of molecular dynamics. It is shown that the appearance of hot spots is associated with release of the elastic energy accumulated in the deficient region. The evolution of a hot spot is followed by intense energy release and by structural rearrangements near its location. The results obtained are of importance for understanding of the effects of mechanical activation of the components in solid-phase chemical reactions.