This is an attempt to design a fractional heat conduction model in a bounded cylindrical region exposed to axisymmetric ramp-type heat flux and discuss its thermal behaviour. This model is drafted using the classical theory of fractional thermoelasticity due to the involvement of two relaxation times to the heatconduction equation and the equations of motion. In order to achieve finite thermal wave speed, the heat conduction equation is derived from the viewpoint of Maxwell–Cattaneo law in the context of fractional derivative. Analytical results for the distribution of temperature, displacement and thermal stresses are obtainedusing integral transforms in the Laplace domain. The Gaver–Stehfest method has been used to invert the results of Laplace domain. The convergence of infinite series solutions has been discussed. As a specific case this model has been applied to a thick circular plate subjected to the axisymmetric ramp-type heat flux. The results obtained for the thermal variations are validated by comparing to coupled and generalized theory of thermoelasticity. These comparisons are shown graphically.