This　paper　investigates　bifurcation　and　chaos　of　cross-ply　laminated　plates　with　piezoelectric　actuators　under　a　transverse　periodic　excitation.　On　the　basis　of　the　Von　Kármán　plate　theory　and　piezoelectric　theory,　the　nonlinear　governing　equations　for　cross-ply　laminated　plates　with　piezoelectric　actuators　are　established.　The　Galerkin　procedure　is　applied　to　truncate　the　governing　equations　into　a　set　of　ordinary　differential　equations.　By　employing　the　modern　methods　in　nonlinear　dynamics,　the　influences　of　external　loading　amplitude,　excitation　voltage　and　actuator　thickness　on　the　bifurcation　and　chaos　of　the　plates　are　discussed　qualitatively.　We　are　mainly　concerned　with　tracing　the　bifurcation　diagram　and　identifying　the　periodic　motions,　multiple　periodic　motions　or　chaotic　motions.　©　Krishtel　eMaging　Solutions　Private　Limited　2011.