This　paper　investigates　the　nonlinear　dynamics　of　the　circular　truss　antenna　with　considering　the　thermal　effect.　The　first-order　shear　deformation　shell　theory　and　the　Hamilton＇s　principle　are　used　to　establish　the　mechanical　model　for　the　circular　truss　antenna　system.　The　motion　governing　equation　is　derived　for　the　equivalent　circular　cylindrical　shell.　For　interest　in　1:2:3　internal　resonances,　the　continuous　system　of　nonlinear　partial　governing　differential　equation　of　motion　is　truncated　into　a　three-degree-of-freedom　system　of　ordinary　differential　equation　including　quadratic　and　cubic　nonlinearities.　From　the　averaged　equations　obtained　by　the　method　of　multiple　scales,　numerical　simulations　are　presented　to　investigate　the　effects　of　the　thermal　excitation　on　the　nonlinear　responses　of　the　truss　antenna　system.　Bifurcation　diagram,　phase　portraits,　time　histories,　power　spectra　and　max　Lyapunov　exponents　are　used　to　get　the　numerically　results.　It　is　found　that　there　exist　period　doubling　bifurcations,　periodic　motions　and　chaotic　motions　in　the　system.　The　numerical　results　show　that　the　thermal　excitation　has　significant　influence　on　the　nonlinear　dynamical　behaviors　of　the　circular　truss　antenna　system.　The　findings　in　this　paper　is　also　useful　for　the　nonlinear　vibration　control　of　the　shell　structure.　©　Published　under　licence　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.