To　introduce　self-piercing　rivet　connection　to　component　connections　of　cold-formed　thin-walled　steel　structures,　shear　and　tension　tests　were　designed　and　conducted　both　on　self-piercing　rivet　connection　and　self-tapping　screw　connection　specimens.　Parameters　in　terms　of　end　distance,　thickness　difference　between　connection　components　and　rivet　length　were　studied　and　their　effects　for　shearing　performances　of　self-piercing　rivet　connection　were　investigated.　Based　on　the　SIR　model　of　transmission　dynamics　of　infectious　diseases,　a　constitutive　model　of　riveting　was　established,　and　then　the　shear　capacity　design　calculation　method　was　proposed.　The　results　show　that　the　main　failure　mode　is　ductile　failure　with　rivet　legs　being　pulled　out　and　part　of　rivet　head　being　pulled　out.　Its　stiffness,　intensity　and　energy　dissipation　are　better　than　the　self-tapping　screw　connection.　The　established　constitutive　model　can　accurately　reflect　the　variable　trend　of　load-deformation　curve　of　the　self-piercing　rivet　connection　and　the　error　of　shear　capacity　between　theoretical　value　and　experimental　value　is　small.　When　self-piercing　rivet　was　used　in　connections　between　cold-formed　thin-walled　steel　sheets,　the　thickness　of　sheets　should　not　be　greater　than　4　mm,　the　thickness　ratio　between　thick　plate　and　thin　sheet　should　not　be　greater　than　1.5　and　the　end　distance　should　be　2　times　more　than　the　diameter　of　the　rivet.　©　2017,　Engineering　Mechanics　Press.　All　right　reserved.