The　stability　and　Shilnikov-type　multi-pulse　jumping　chaotic　vibrations　are　investigated　for　a　nonlinear　rotor-active　magnetic　bearing　(AMB)　system　with　the　time　varying　stiffness　and　16-pole　legs　under　the　mechanical-electric-electromagnetic　excitations.　The　ordinary　differential　governing　equation　of　motion　for　the　rotor-AMB　system　is　given　by　a　two-degree-of-freedom　nonlinear　dynamical　system　including　the　parametric　excitation,　quadratic　and　cubic　nonlinearities.　The　averaged　equations　of　the　rotor-AMB　system　are　obtained　by　using　the　method　of　multiple　scales　under　the　cases　of　1:1　internal　resonance,　primary　parametric　resonance　and　1/2　subharmonic　resonance.　Some　coordinate　transformations　are　employed　to　find　the　type　and　number　of　the　equilibrium　points　for　the　averaged　equations.　Using　the　global　perturbation　method　developed　by　Kavacic　and　Wiggins,　the　explicit　sufficient　conditions　near　the　resonance　are　obtained　for　the　existence　of　the　Shilnikov-type　multi-pulse　jumping　homoclinic　orbits　and　chaotic　vibrations.　This　implies　that　the　Shilnikov-type　multi-pulse　jumping　chaotic　vibrations　may　occur　for　the　rotor-AMB　system　in　the　sense　of　Smale　horseshoes.　Numerical　simulations　are　presented　to　verify　the　analytical　predictions　by　using　the　fourth-order　Runge-Kutta　method.　The　Shilnikov-type　multi-pulse　jumping　chaotic　vibrations　can　exist　in　the　rotor-AMB　system　with　the　time　varying　stiffness　and　16-pole　legs　under　the　mechanical-electric-magnetic　excitations.　©　2020　Elsevier　Masson　SAS