This　paper　investigates　the　bifurcation　and　chaos　in　breathing　vibration　of　a　circular　truss　antenna　that　has　expanded　subjected　to　heating　load.　The　circular　antenna　is　reducing　to　a　continuum　circular　cylindrical　shell,　and　considering　the　loads　that　come　from　cable　net　structure.　By　using　the　first　order　shear　deformation　theory,　geometrical　non-linearity　strain-displacement　relationship　and　Hamilton’s　principle,　the　nonlinear　partial　differential　equilibrium　equation　of　the　system　are　deduced.　Galerkin　method　is　utilized　to　obtain　the　nonlinear　ordinary　differential　governing　equations　of　the　cylindrical　shell　under　the　specific　boundary　conditions　that　one　generatrix　of　the　cylindrical　shell　is　clamped　and　both　ends　of　the　shell　are　free.　Using　Runge-Kutta　method　for　numerical　simulation　of　equivalent　cylindrical　shell　under　special　boundary　condition,　the　bifurcation　diagram　of　system　and　the　largest　Lyapunov　exponent　curve,　three-dimensional　bifurcation　diagram,　time　history　diagram,　phase　map　and　Poincare　section　can　be　obtained.　The　influences　of　radial　line　load　and　in-plane　load　on　vibration　characteristics　of　the　continuum　circular　cylindrical　shell　are　studied.　©　2017,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　All　rights　reserved.