Transmitted wave profiles are presented for A1 single crystals that were loaded along crystallographic directions [100], [110] and [111] by a stress wave of the amplitude 1·85 GPa. The experiments were carried out with the Hopkinson Split Bar Technique. The observed wave profiles strongly depend on the specimen length. The constitutive relation of elastic-plastic-relaxing solid was proposed for the interpretation of obtained results. Mechanical properties can then be inferred by comparing observed rates of decay with theoretical models of stress relaxation.