The aim of this work is to determine the temperature, displacement function, thermal stresses and thermal deflection of a thin circular plate defined as 0 ≤ r ≤ a, 0 ≤ z ≤ h under an unsteady temperature field due to internal heat generation within it. Initially, the plate is kept at an arbitrary temperature F(r, z). For times t > 0, heat is generated within the thin circular plate at a rate of g(r, z, t) W. m−3. The governing heat conduction equation has been solved by generalised finite Fourier transform and finite Hankel transform technique. The results are obtained in a series form in terms of Bessel’s functions. The results for temperature, displacement function, thermal stresses and thermal deflection have been computed numerically and are illustrated graphically. Copyright © 2019 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.