Bifurcation　and　chaos　of　an　axially　accelerating　viscoelastic　belt　are　investigated.　Based　on　geometry　nonlinearity,　nonlinear　governing　equations　of　motion　for　the　axially　acelerating　viscoelastic　belt　are　derived　by　using　Hamilton＇s　principle.　The　partial　differential　governing　equations　are　truncated　to　a　set　of　four-dimensional　ordinary　differential　equations　based　on　the　first　term　Galerkin　method.　The　nonlinear　dynamical　behaviors　of　the　system　are　numerically　identified　by　using　the　bifurcation　diagrams.　The　results　of　numerical　simulations　indicate　that　bifurcation　and　chaos　occur　in　the　transverse　nonlinear　oscillations　of　the　axially　acelerating　viscoelastic　belt.