This paper presents an exact analytical solution of 2D transient temperature, caused by a non-periodical pulse heating of a cylindrical two-layer slab. The corresponding partial differential equations are solved step-by-step, using the separation of variables technique. Analytical/computational procedure for eigenvalue derivation is considered separately. General initial assumptions, such as existence of thermal contact resistance, thermal conduction and diffusion anisotropy, radiative heat losses, non-uniform heating, and finite absorption depth are accounted in the solution. Numerical simulations of temperature distribution throughout the sample are given at the end of the paper. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.