In order to establish a method for topological optimization of the power flow response of a cylindrical shell stiffener structure based on BESO, this paper will combine the BESO topology optimization theoretical and the power flow response theory , and take the overall minimization of the power flow of the cylindrical shell stiffener structure as the optimization goal. Then an iterative optimization algorithm for the layout of the stiffener structure on the cylindrical shell surface can be established. The plate-beam coupling structure is used to simulate the cylindrical shell stiffener structure, a finite element model of the cylindrical shell stiffened is established and solved to obtain the power flow sensitivity of the finite element. This is used as an iterative criterion for the layout of the stiffener on the surface of the cylindrical shell structure optimize. Through the analysis of numerical examples, it is obtained that the optimization of the rib layout can better reduce the overall power flow response of the structure, which also verifies the feasibility of the optimization method.