The　main　tendency　of　circular　truss　antennae　will　be　large　scale,　light　weight　and　high　flexibility　in　future.　The　circular　truss　antenna　keeps　in　a　folded　state　during　the　time　of　launching.　After　blastoff,　the　circular　truss　antenna　unfolds　in　sequence　according　to　the　instruction,　saving　much　space　for　the　satellite.　In　addition,　the　caliber　of　the　circular　truss　antenna　can　be　designed　as　an　ideal　value　according　to　requirement.　Due　to　the　structural　characteristics　and　the　complex　spatial　environment,　the　antenna　may　suffer　large-amplitude　vibrations,　which　severely　affect　the　stability　of　the　satellite.　The　circular　truss　antenna　was　simplified　as　an　equivalent　cylindrical　shell　model　and　the　dynamic　equations　were　established.　The　theoretical　analysis　and　numerical　simulation　were　used　to　investigate　the　nonlinear　dynamic　behaviors　of　the　circular　truss　antenna　in　the　6D　system.　The　normal　form　theory　was　adopted　to　simplify　the　averaged　equations.　The　dynamics　of　the　unperturbed　system　and　the　perturbed　system　was　studied.　The　Shilnikov-type　multi-pulse　chaotic　motion　was　proved　with　the　energy-phase　method,　and　the　effects　of　the　thermal　excitation　on　the　nonlinear　vibrations　of　the　circular　truss　antenna　system　was　verified　through　numerical　simulation.　©　2019　Editorial　Office　of　Applied　Mathematics　and　Mechanics.　All　rights　reserved.