A method of welding thermoplastic composite components comprising providing first and second thermoplastic composites components (20, 24) and an interface layer (26) comprising thermoplastic between the two, disposing an external susceptor (54) adjacent to the outer surface (20B) of the first component (20), applying a normal force (F) to the outer surface (20B) of the first component (20) without an application of an opposing normal force to the second component (24), and applying an electromagnetic field (42) to the external susceptor (54) so that the induction heating melts the first and second thermoplastic composite components (20, 24) and the interface layer (26).The external susceptor (54) includes a central segment (54A) and lateral segments (54B) configured to respond differently to the induction heating.A further method involves determining a first, second and third inflection point of the applied normal force during welding and then stopping the induction heating.
Pour en savoir plus : Method for joining thermoplastic composite components