The present manuscript deals with the generation of flexural gravity waves due to transient axi-symmetric disturbances in two-layer fluid. Roles of structural rigidity and compressive force on the transient flexural gravity wave motion are analyzed under the assumption of small amplitude water wave theory and structural responses in the case of finite water depth. Using Laplace and Hankel transforms, integral forms of the velocity potentials, structural deflection, surface and interface elevations are derived for the flexural gravity wave motion. Asymptotic solutions for surface and interface elevations are derived in special cases using method of stationary phase for large time and space. © 2019, Springer Nature India Private Limited.