Chaotic motion of a nonlinear thermoelastic elliptic plate

In the paper the nonlinear dynamic equation of a harmonically forced ellipt ic plate is derived, with the effects of large deflection of plate and ther moelasticity taken into account. The Melnikov function method is used to gi ve the critical condition for chaotic motion. A demonstrative example is di scussed through the Poincare mapping, phase portrait and time history. Fina lly the path to chaotic motion is also discussed. Through the theoretical a nalysis and numerical computation some beneficial conclusions are obtained.