To bridge the gap between structural fidelity and simulation speed, engineers apply Model Order Reduction techniques like Component Mode Synthesis (CMS) or the Craig-Bampton method. This isolates the lowest, most energetic structural vibration modes (usually the first 3 to 5 bending modes) and discards high-frequency modes that do not interact significantly with the control system. 3. Aeroelasticity and Environmental Forcing

: Thin-walled propellant tanks under high internal pressure act like inflated balloons, providing structural strength but low resistance to bending.

provides the state equations in a format that can be readily coded into a simulation environment. Dynamics and Simulation of Flexible Rockets [1 

Unlike aircraft, rockets experience dramatic mass distribution changes. A rocket can burn through 90% of its liftoff mass in just a few minutes. As fuel tanks empty: