As a basic research for the automation of plate forming process, the theoretical aspect of plate bending by line heating was surveyed and numerical simulation of plate bonding deformation was performed using the 3-dimensional nonlinear transient thermal elasto-plastic finite element analysis. Analyzing the unsteady heat conduction problem of the flat steel plate under heat flux input by gas torch, the time history of 3-dimensional thermal distribution was obtained. Transient thermal deformation process of the plate was analyzed under the thermal loading. And the calculated results are investigated in detail.