Abstract: The dynamic buckling of thin copper plate induced by laser beam, was analyzed with the numerical integration and disturbance methods of controlling equation. The buckling and post-buckling of thin plate were shown, with the consideration of the temperature distribution, inertia effect and initial deflection. At last, the buckling criterion about the circular plate was obtained and used to investigate the relation between the critical laser intensity and the ratio of thickness and diameter of the plate. The results fit the experimental observation and the FEM simulation very well, and benefit to the understanding of failure phenomenon of structures irradiated by laser beam.