This　paper　investigates　the　multi-pulse　global　bifurcations　and　chaotic　dynamics　for　the　nonlinear,　non-planar　oscillations　of　the　parametrically　excited　viscoelastic　moving　belt　using　an　extended　Melnikov　method　in　the　resonant　case.　Using　the　Kelvin-type　viscoelastic　constitutive　law　and　Hamilton＇s　principle,　the　equations　of　motion　are　derived　for　the　viscoelastic　moving　belt　with　the　external　damping　and　parametric　excitation.　Applying　the　method　of　multiple　scales　and　Galerkin＇s　approach　to　the　partial　differential　governing　equation,　the　four-dimensional　averaged　equation　is　obtained　for　the　case　of　1:1　internal　resonance　and　primary　parametric　resonance.　From　the　averaged　equations　obtained,　the　theory　of　normal　form　is　used　to　derive　the　explicit　expressions　of　normal　form　with　a　double　zero　and　a　pair　of　pure　imaginary　eigenvalues.　Based　on　the　explicit　expressions　of　normal　form,　the　extended　Melnikov　method　is　used　for　the　first　time　to　investigate　the　Shilnikov-type　multi-pulse　homoclinic　bifurcations　and　chaotic　dynamics.　The　paper　demonstrates　how　to　employ　the　extended　Melnikov　method　to　analyze　the　Shilnikov-type　multi-pulse　homoclinic　bifurcations　and　chaotic　dynamics　of　high-dimensional　nonlinear　systems　in　engineering　applications.　Numerical　simulations　show　that　for　the　nonlinear　non-planar　oscillations　of　the　viscoelastic　moving　belt,　the　Shilnikov-type　multi-pulse　chaotic　motions　can　occur.　Overall,　both　theoretical　and　numerical　studies　suggest　that　the　chaos　for　the　Smale　horseshoe　sense　in　motion　exists.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.