This　paper　presents　an　analysis　on　the　nonlinear　dynamics　and　multi-pulse　chaotic　motions　of　a　simply-supported　symmetric　cross-ply　composite　laminated　rectangular　thin　plate　with　the　parametric　and　forcing　excitations.　Firstly,　based　on　the　Reddy＇s　three-order　shear　deformation　plate　theory　and　the　model　of　the　von　Karman　type　geometric　nonlinearity,　the　nonlinear　governing　partial　differential　equations　of　motion　for　the　composite　laminated　rectangular　thin　plate　are　derived　by　using　the　Hamilton＇s　principle.　Then,　using　the　second-order　Galerkin　discretization　approach,　the　partial　differential　governing　equations　of　motion　are　transformed　to　nonlinear　ordinary　differential　equations.　The　case　of　the　primary　parametric　resonance　and　1:1　internal　resonance　is　considered.　Four-dimensional　averaged　equation　is　obtained　by　using　the　method　of　multiple　scales.　From　the　averaged　equation　obtained　here,　the　theory　of　normal　form　is　used　to　give　the　explicit　expressions　of　normal　form.　Based　on　normal　form,　the　energy　phase　method　is　utilized　to　analyze　the　global　bifurcations　and　multi-pulse　chaotic　dynamics　of　the　composite　laminated　rectangular　thin　plate.　The　results　obtained　above　illustrate　the　existence　of　the　chaos　for　the　Smale　horseshoe　sense　in　a　parametrical　and　forcing　excited　composite　laminated　thin　plate.　The　chaotic　motions　of　the　composite　laminated　rectangular　thin　plate　are　also　found　by　using　numerical　simulation.　The　results　of　numerical　simulation　also　indicate　that　there　exist　different　shapes　of　the　multi-pulse　chaotic　motions　for　the　composite　laminated　rectangular　thin　plate.　Copyright　©　2008　by　ASME.