The　aim　of　this　survey　paper　is　to　illustrate　the　perspectives　on　the　theories　of　the　single-　and　multi-pulse　global　bifurcations　and　chaotic　dynamics　of　high-dimensional　nonlinear　systems　and　applications　to　several　engineering　problems　in　the　past　two　decades.　Two　main　methods　for　studying　the　Shilnikov　type　multi-pulse　homoclinic　and　heteroclinic　orbits　in　high-dimensional　nonlinear　systems,　which　are　the　energy-phase　method　and　generalized　Melnikov　method,　are　briefly　demonstrated　in　the　theoretical　frame.　In　addition,　the　theory　of　normal　form　and　an　improved　adjoint　operator　method　for　high-dimensional　nonlinear　systems　is　also　applied　to　describe　a　reducing　procedure　to　high-dimensional　nonlinear　systems.　The　aforementioned　methods　are　utilized　to　investigate　the　Shilnikov　type　multi-pulse　homoclinic　bifurcations　and　chaotic　dynamics　for　the　nonlinear　nonplanar　oscillations　of　the　cantilever　beam　subjected　to　a　harmonic　axial　excitation　and　two　transverse　excitations　at　the　free　end.　How　to　employ　these　methods　to　analyze　the　Shilnikov　type　multi-pulse　homoclinic　and　heteroclinic　bifurcations　and　chaotic　dynamics　of　high-dimensional　nonlinear　systems　in　engineering　applications　is　demonstrated　through　this　example.