The　nonlinear　aeroelasticity　of　an　orthotropic　composite　laminated　plate　subjected　to　axial　subsonic　airflow　and　transverse　harmonic　excitation　is　investigated.　Considering　the　von　Karman＇s　large　deformation,　the　partial　differential　equation　of　motion　of　the　structural　system　is　established　using　the　Hamilton＇s　principle　and　reduced　into　a　system　of　ordinary　differential　equations　through　Galerkin＇s　method.　The　aerodynamic　pressure　induced　by　the　transverse　motion　of　the　plate　is　derived　from　the　linear　potential　flow　theory.　For　the　structural　system,　the　Melnikov＇s　method　and　numerical　simulations　are　adopted　to　investigate　the　influence　of　the　flow　velocity　on　the　chaotic　motion　of　the　plate　for　a　given　external　harmonic　excitation.　The　results　show　that　when　the　flow　velocity　increases,　the　plate　will　be　unstable,　and　the　chaotic　motion　of　the　laminated　plate　will　happen.　Copyright　©　2016　by　ASME.