The dynamic response of the cylindrical shell subjected to thermal shock is investigated. Based on the classical shell theory, dynamic governing equations of thin shell with the simply supported edges under thermal shock are derived by using Hamilton principle. The temperature field, the thermal axial force and the thermal bending moment are obtained in combination of Laplace transform and series expansion when the internal surface of shell is subjected to thermal shock loading. Considering of the axisymmetric deformation, the transient displacements and thermal stresses of the shell are obtained using the differential quadrature method. The effects of the thermal shock load and the geometrical parameters of the cylindrical shell on the central deflection, the axial displacement, the bending configurations and the transient thermal stresses are analyzed
