In this paper, the C-V wave model was adopted to study the thermal response of a square plate which is irradiated by a moving temporally non-Gaussian laser pulse. The governing equation was solved by using the method of mode superposition. The propagation and rebounding of thermal wave was confirmed. The dependence of the wave velocity on relaxation time was discussed. The influences of scanning velocity and wave velocity on the temperature distribution were also indicated. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.