Transient solutions are presented for an infinitely long simply supported composite plate subjected to either a uniform or line concentrated dynamic pressure at the upper surface of the plate. A rectangular pulse, triangular pulse, and sinusoidal pulse are considered and dynamic load factors determined for maximum values of deflection, bending stress, and interlaminar shear stress as a function of pulse dwell time. Effect of pulse shape on deflection and stresses is also considered. These numerical results are obtained for graphite/epoxy symmetric angle‐ply laminates.