Abstract: A mathematical model to describe the wave-shaped defect generation and stretching process of thin strips is established by using ABAQUS to study the stress characteristics and deformation behavior of strips under initial strain. Influencing factors on the straightening effect are analyzed in the tension straightening process. The deformation process of wave-shaped defects is divided into a generation phase, a stretching stage, and an elastic recovery phase. The elastic-buckling wave of thin steel strips and the elastic-plastic-buckling wave of aluminum strips as two typical wave-shaped forms are focused on to investigate the change of wave steepness and system energy. During the process of tension straightening, the number and height of the elastic-buckling wave both change, while the height of the elastic-plastic-buckling wave does continuously only. After straightening, the residual stress distribution of the elastic-buckling wave is similar to the initial stress distribution, while the residual stress distribution of the elastic-plastic-buckling wave makes a significant difference. The steepness of the residual wave increases with the increase of initial wave steepness and decreases with the increase of strip thickness. The straightening effect of the elastic-plastic-buckling wave is more significant.