The　resonant　responses　are　investigated　for　the　porous-hyperelastic　Mooney–Rivlin　cylindrical　shell　subjected　to　a　radial　harmonic　excitation.　Considering　the　higher-order　shear　deformation　theory　(HSDT),　fourth-order　strain-displacement　relations　are　derived,　which　include　the　radial　geometric　imperfections　varying　along　the　thickness　direction.　Using　the　porous-hyperelastic　Mooney–Rivlin　constitution　relation　and　Lagrange　equation,　the　differential　governing　equations　of　motion　are　obtained　for　the　porous-hyperelastic　cylindrical　shells.　The　resonant　conditions　are　presented　and　the　accuracy　of　the　mathematical　models　is　verified.　The　harmonic　balance　and　pseudo-arc　length　continuation　methods　are　used　to　obtain　the　amplitude-frequency　and　forced-amplitude　curves.　The　stability　of　the　solutions　is　analyzed　by　Floquet　theory.　The　effects　of　the　external　excitation　amplitudes,　structure　parameters　and　porosity　infill　parameters　on　the　linear　frequencies,　amplitude-frequency　responses　and　force-amplitude　responses　are　discussed　for　the　imperfect　porous-hyperelastic　cylindrical　shells.　The　results　show　that　the　linear　frequencies　of　the　porous-hyperelastic　cylindrical　shells　increase　obviously　as　the　uniform　and　sigmoid　function　porosity　parameters　reach　the　certain　values.　The　increase　of　the　structure　parameters　enhances　the　response　amplitudes　of　the　first-order　mode　and　minified　response　amplitudes　of　the　second-order　mode.　The　decreasing　porosity　ratios　weaken　the　softening　nonlinear　behaviors　of　the　porous-hyperelastic　cylindrical　shells.　With　the　changes　of　the　external　excitation　amplitudes　and　structure　parameters,　the　motion　of　the　porous-hyperelastic　cylindrical　shell　indicates　that　the　synchronous　vibrations　occur　with　the　period　and　chaotic　vibrations　alternately.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd