This booklet presents a study of one-dimensional waves in solids which can be modelled by nonlinear wave equations of different types. The factorization method is the main tool in this analysis. It allows for an exact or at least asymp- totic decomposition of the wave(s) under consideration in terms of first order multipliers. Chapter 1 provides a general introduction. It presents some well-known results on characteristics, Riemann invariants, simple waves, etc. The main result of Chap. 1 is Theorem 1.3.2. (Sect. 1.3.2) which establishes the possibility of exact factorization of the nonlinear...