The　heteroclinic　bifurcation　and　multi-pulse　chaotic　dynamics　of　a　simply-supported　symmetric　cross-ply　composite　laminated　rectangular　plate　with　parametric　and　forcing　excitations　are　investigated　in　this　paper　for　the　first　time.　The　formulas　of　the　simply-supported　composite　laminated　rectangular　plate　are　derived　by　using　Hamilton＇s　principle　and　the　Galerkin＇s　approach.　The　extended　Melnikov　method　is　improved　to　enable　us　to　analyze　directly　the　non-autonomous　nonlinear　dynamical　system,　which　is　applied　to　the　nonautonomous　governing　equations　of　motion　for　the　simplysupported　composite　laminated　rectangular　plate.　The　results　obtained　here　indicate　that　the　multi-pulse　chaotic　motions　can　occur　in　the　simply-supported　composite　laminated　rectangular　plate.　Numerical　simulation　is　also　employed　to　find　the　multipulse　chaotic　motions　of　the　simply-supported　composite　laminated　rectangular　plate.　©　2013　ASME.