In this work we study the existence of Silnikov homoclinicorbits in the averaged equations representing the modal interactionsbetween two modes with zero-to-one internal resonance. The fast mode isparametrically excited near its resonance frequency by a periodicforcing. The slow mode is coupled to the fast mode when the amplitude ofthe fast mode reaches a critical value so that the equilibrium of theslow mode loses stability. Using the analytical solutions of anunperturbed integrable Hamiltonian system, we evaluate a generalizedMelnikov function which measures the separation of the stable and theunstable manifolds of an annulus containing the resonance band of thefast mode. This Melnikov function is used together with the informationof the resonances of the fast mode to predict the region of physicalparameters for the existence of Silnikov homoclinic orbits.

internal resonance - homoclinic orbits - Melnikov function