To　introduce　self-piercing　rivet　(SPR)　connections　into　component　connection　of　cold-formed　thin-walled　steel　structure,　SPR　connection　specimens　were　tested　on　shear　behavior,　which　took　into　account　the　factors　including　end　distance,　spacing,　number　and　arrangement　of　SPRs.　The　load-deformation　curve,　shear　bearing　capacity　and　failure　mechanism　for　all　test　specimens　were　studied.　Based　on　the　SIR　(susceptible-infective-removal)　model　of　transmission　dynamics　of　infectious　diseases,　mechanical　model　of　single　SPR　connection　was　established.　A　calculation　method　of　the　shear　bearing　capacity　was　proposed　for　multiple　SPR　connections　by　considering　rivet　group　reduction　effect.　The　results　show　failure　of　multiple　self-piercing　rivet　connections　mainly　include　pull-out　of　rivet　tail　from　the　bottom　sheet　along　with　pull-over　of　top　sheet　from　rivet　head,　tensile　fracture　of　steel　sheet,　in　which　the　former　is　ideal　ductile　failure　mode.　End　distance　and　spacing　of　rivet　are　key　factors　for　influencing　failure　mechanism　and　shear　behavior　of　SPR　connections,　which　should　not　be　less　than　3　times　and　5　times　diameter　of　rivet,　respectively.　Arrangement　has　a　great　influence　on　the　shear　bearing　capacity,　so　rivet　should　firstly　consider　vertical　alignment.　The　calculation　method　considering　rivet　group　reduction　effect　can　accurately　predict　shear　bearing　capacity　of　SPR　connections.　©　2017,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Building　Structures.　All　right　reserved.