A thermodynamic theory of the movement of point, line and surface defe
cts is considered at finite deformations. This theory is based on the
balance laws for crystal defects. The defects balance laws together wi
th the well-known balance laws for the mass, momentum, moment of momen
tum, energy and entropy have been utilized to find the driving forces
acting on crystal defects. Some of the derived formulae are well-known
, e.g. Peach-Koehler formula, nevertheless, many new relations are obt
ained, e.g. for osmotic forces and for the energy flux due to the move
ment of crystal defects. The driving force acting on a grain boundary
is found as a thermodynamic force needed to balance the jump in energy
density across the moving discontinuity surface. Using the relations
derived for driving forces the problem of the constitutive modelling o
f the crystal defect movement is considered. The elastic behaviour of
materials with structural defects is determined by a constitutive equa
tion imposed on the free energy density. This equation takes into acco
unt the elastic strain, crystal defect densities and temperature. The
crystal plasticity is described by vector constitutive equations state
d between the defects velocities and the respective driving forces.