In this paper we reviewed the research on the dynamic response of forced vibrations of orthotropic membranes, which applies in the membrane structural engineering. We applied the large deflection theory of membranes, the D'Alembert's principle and the momentum theorem to derive the fundamental equations of forced vibrations of orthotropic membranes, which we solved according to the Lindstedt Poincare Perturbation Method, and obtained the formula of impact load and nonlinear forced vibration deflection of rectangular membranes with four edges fixed. Then a numerical computation method for the equation was applied. The results of practical examples are shown and discussed in the paper. This paper provide a method for analyzing some practical engineering problems and furthermore the nonlinear governing equations of forced vibration and the solving method provide some theoretical foundation for the. research relating to the solving of membrane structures under dynamic loads by comprehensively considering the effects of material nonlinearity, geometric nonlinearity and viscous damping. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2012