Nonlinear dynamics of one-dimensional longitudinal waves in isotropic elastic plates was studied taking into account the interaction of displacement fields, temperature, and concentration of nonequilibrium (relaxing) atomic point defects. A nonlinear evolution equation for describing the self-consistent field of longitudinal thermoelastic strain was derived. The effect of generation-recombination processes on the evolution of nonlinear localized and periodic waves was analyzed. In the single-wave approximation, an equation was derived which describes the amplitude variation of nonlinear waves; based on this equation, characteristic features of damping of these waves were considered taking into account low-and high-frequency losses. The interaction of counterpropagating waves is briefly discussed taking into account dissipative effects.