A two-component model of material with a nonlinear internal interaction force is proposed for describing its structural transformations. An analogy between the equations of a continuous medium and their discrete representation allows demonstrating the effect of quenching of a non-stationary wave, caused by the transfer of energy to internal degrees of freedom. The parameters of the external impact at which the transformation of crystalline lattice takes place are determined. Analytical results are compared with numerical calculations, performed by using the finite difference method.