Laser　bending　of　elastic　pre-loaded　metal　plates　is　promising　due　to　many　advantages,　such　as　high　forming　precision　and　avoidance　of　plastic　instability.　To　reveal　the　plastic　deformation　behavior　of　the　plate,　the　deformation　process　is　investigated　through　theoretical　analysis　and　finite　element　(FE)　simulations.　The　FE　model　is　verified　via　forming　experiments.　The　results　show　that　the　yield　strength　of　the　metal　material　decreases　faster　than　the　elastic　modulus　with　the　rising　temperature　of　the　plate　during　laser　scanning.　Then,　the　equivalent　stress　which　is　calculated　to　be　proportional　to　the　elastic　modulus　overtakes　the　yield　strength　in　some　regions　of　the　plate,　so　that　the　plastic　deformation　occurs.　The　amount　of　the　plastic　deformation　inside　the　plate　can　be　estimated　by　an　analytical　formula　derived　in　theory,　and　it　depends　on　both　pre-stress　field　and　peak　temperature　field.　Larger　pre-stress　and　higher　peak　temperature　bring　about　larger　plastic　strain.　Because　of　this,　for　a　point　of　any　segment　whose　midperpendicular　is　the　scan　path　in　the　present　forming　model,　the　closer　position　is　to　the　scan　path　the　larger　x-axis　direction　plastic　strain　it　would　generate　inside.