Abstract: To investigate friction ignition mechanism of solid explosives, the nonlinear dynamics finite element LS-DYNA code, that was incorporated with thermo-elastic-plastic material model and thermal decomposition of explosive, and ALE algorithm were used. The numerical computations of assessmental test of friction ignition were performed. The critical curve of igniting of PBX-C03 was obtained at different pressures, velocities and friction coefficients. The results indicate that the thermo-elastic-plastic material model with thermal decomposition reaction could be used as the numerical computation model to simulate friction ignition in solid explosives. Increase of the sliding velocity and/or frictional efficient could lead to ignition of PBX-C03, when the loading pressure is near yield stress.