Patent ID: 7836636

Claim:
A pneumatic structural element comprising: a gas-tight casing; a plurality of tension/compression elements extending from a first end of the pneumatic structural element to a second end of the pneumatic structural element, the plurality of tension/compression elements comprising: at least one compressively loadable stiffening element; at least one tensile-loadable stiffening element; wherein the at least one compressively loadable stiffening element and the at least one tensile-loadable stiffening element are connected to one another at a common node on respective ends; wherein, responsive to an application of an operational load, the at least one compressively loadable stiffening element is stressed by axial compression and the at least one tensile-loadable stiffening element is stressed by axial tension; a flexible web is disposed within said pneumatic structural element between a first end region of the pneumatic structural element and a second end region of the pneumatic structural element, the flexible web operable to connect an upper portion of the gas-tight casing to a lower portion of the gas-tight casing, the flexible web comprising a tensile-loadable material; wherein the flexible web is pre-tensioned by said pneumatic structural element under an operating pressure of said pneumatic structural element; and wherein the at least one compressively loadable stiffening element and the at least one tensile loadable stiffening element are connected to the flexible web along a length of the at least one compressively loadable stiffening element and the at least one tensile loadable stiffening element.