AbstractA fluid–structure interaction formulation for viscous compressible fluid is under consideration. The formulation involves finite element approximation of linearized Navier–Stokes equations and response determination made by means of modal superposition analysis. Standard and simplified schemes of the viscous compressible fluid–structure interaction problem solution are developed. The schemes are based on the frequency condensation method of a complex eigenvalue problem solving. Free and forced oscillations of several fluid–structure systems are studied by the standard and simplified schemes. The analysis of the results obtained shows that the simplified scheme provides a saving of 90% of the computational time required to define oscillation of the structure with viscous compressible fluid in the lowest frequency range. A certain influence of the fluid viscosity on the transient response of the fluid–structure system is also demonstrated. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.