Magnetic pressure sensors system for measurement and imaging of steel mass

A system for determining an amount of metal in a construction member of cylindrical shape, the system comprising:

• a plurality of pressure sensors adapted to be placed around an exterior surface of the construction member of cylindrical shape;
• a plurality of magnetic sources, wherein each of the plurality of magnetic sources is paired with one of the plurality of pressure sensors, and wherein each pair of pressure sensor and magnetic source is arranged such that the pressure sensor is positioned between the respective magnetic source and the construction member of cylindrical shape during the system operation, and wherein each of the plurality of pressure sensors are adapted to sense pressure created by attracting magnetic forces exerted between each of the plurality of magnetic sources and the metal in or within the construction member of cylindrical shape which result in compressive forces experienced at a sandwiched pressure sensor;
• a remote processing system in electronic communication with the plurality of pressure sensors and plurality of magnetic sources, the remote processing system comprising one or more executable software routines, which when executed, configure the remote processing system to:
• 1) activate the plurality of magnetic sources;
• 2) measure the pressure sensed by each of the plurality of pressure sensors;
• 3) determine the amount of metal in or within the construction member of cylindrical shape;
• and 4) generate a volume image of the metal in or within the construction member of cylindrical shape;
• and
• an intermediate structure placed between the construction member of cylindrical shape and the plurality of pressure sensors, the intermediate structure comprising a polymer housing and a set of wheels, wherein the intermediate structure is adapted to roll along an outside surface of the construction structure of cylindrical shape.

A system for determining an amount of metal in a construction structure having an exterior flat surface, the system comprising:

• a plurality of pressure sensors adapted to be placed on the exterior flat surface of the construction structure in a grid;
• a plurality of magnetic sources, wherein each of the plurality of magnetic sources is paired with one of the plurality of pressure sensors, and wherein each pair of pressure sensor and magnetic source is arranged such that the pressure sensor is positioned between the respective magnetic source and the construction structure during the system operation, and wherein each of the plurality of pressure sensors are adapted to sense pressure experienced at the pressure sensor resulting from attracting magnetic forces exerted between each of the plurality of magnetic sources and the metal in or within the construction structure;
• a remote processing system in electronic communication with the plurality of pressure sensors and the plurality of magnetic sources, the remote processing system comprising one or more executable software routines, which when executed, configure the remote processing system to:
• 1) activate the plurality of magnetic sources;
• 2) measure the pressure sensed by each of the plurality of pressure sensors;
• and 3) determine the thickness of metal in or within the construction structure;
• and
• an intermediate structure placed between the construction structure and the plurality of pressure sensors, the intermediate structure adapted to skid or roll on the outside surface of the construction structure.