It is pointed out that the damping matrix deduced by active members in the finite element vibration equation of a truss adaptive structure generally can not be decoupled, which leads to the difficulty in the process of modal analysis by classical superposition method. This paper focuses on the computational method of the dynamic response for truss adaptive structures. Firstly, a new technique of state vector approach is applied to study the dynamic response of truss adaptive structures. It can make the coefficient matrix of first derivative of state vector a symmetric positive definite matrix, and particularly a diagonal matrix provided that mass matrix is derived by lumped method, so the coefficient matrix of the first derivative of state vector can be exactly decomposed by CHOLESKY method. In this case, the proposed technique not only improves the calculation accuracy, but also saves the computing time. Based on the procedure mentioned above, the mathematical formulation for the system response of truss adaptive structures is systematically derived in theory. Thirdly, by using FORTRAN language, a program system for computing dynamic response of truss adaptive structures is developed. Fourthly, a typical 18 bar space truss adaptive structure has been chosen as test numerical examples to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. Finally, some good suggestions, such as how to choose complex mode shapes practically in determining the dynamic response are also given. The new approach can be extended to calculate the dynamic response of general adaptive structures.