The propagation of a longitudinal elastic strain pulse in a wide rectangular bar is considered on the basis of approximate plane-stress equations of motion. Asymptotic expressions are obtained which, for large distances of travel, describe the pulse propagation in a semi-infinite strip with stress-free lateral edges, subject to the conditions that a uniform normal stress with a step-function time dependence is applied to the end and that the end is laterally constrained. Particular emphasis is given to describing the warping of plane sections during passage of the strain pulse.