Abstract: By using the method of quasi-shells , the nonlinear dynamic equations of three-dimensional single-layer shallow cylindrical reticulated shells with equilateral triangle cell are founded. By using the method of the separating variable function, the transverse displacement of the shallow cylindrical reticulated shells is given under the conditions of two edges simple support. The tensile force is solved out from the compatible equations, a nonlinear dynamic differential equation containing second and third order is derived by using the method of Galerkin. The stability near the equilibrium point is discussed by solving the Floquet exponent and the critical condition is obtained by using Melnikov function. The existence of the chaotic motion of thesingle-layer shallow cylindrical reticulated shell is approved by using the digital simulation method and Poincare mapping.

Key words: reticulated shells, method of quasi-shells, chaotic motion, critical condition