To　apply　self-piercing　riveted　(SPR)　connections　with　high　efficiency　and　a　high　degree　of　automation　in　the　field　of　mechanical　engineering　to　cold-formed　thin-wall　steel　structures,　the　shear　behavior　of　51　groups　of　SPR　connections　on　thin-walled　steel　sheets　were　tested.　The　influences　of　the　steel　sheet　thickness,　thickness　ratio　and　rivet　length　on　the　shear　behavior　and　failure　mechanism　of　the　SPR　connections　were　studied.　An　empirical　formula　that　combines　the　steel　sheet　thickness　and　rivet　length　was　fitted.　We　also　analyzed　the　feasibility　for　the　existing　calculation　method　of　the　shear　strength　of　SPR　connections　and　design　methods　of　the　shear　capacity　of　self-tapping　screw　connections　in　the　specifications　of　five　countries.　Based　on　the　results　of　the　test　and　the　analysis,　a　calculation　method　of　calculating　the　shear　capacity　was　proposed.　The　result　showed　that　the　steel　sheet　thickness　and　thickness　ratio　had　the　most　significant　effect　on　the　shear　behavior　and　failure　mechanism,　respectively.　The　rivet　length　had　a　great　influence　on　the　shear　properties　and　an　optimal　length　could　be　determined　quickly　by　the　fitted　empirical　formula.　Compared　with　the　existing　methods,　the　calculation　method　proposed　for　different　failure　modes　was　more　suitable　for　the　design　because　of　higher　accuracy　and　better　stability.　©　2020,　Engineering　Mechanics　Press.　All　right　reserved.