The　numerical　simulation　method　for　predicting　the　lap　shear　strength　of　self-piercing　riveting　(SPR)　joint　is　studied.　The　finite　element　models　of　0.7　mm　low　carbon　steel+0.7　mm　low　carbon　steel　similar　material　and　0.7　mm　low　carbon　steel+2mm　AA6061　dissimilar　material　SPR　joints　are　established　based　on　the　experimental　results.　Then,　considering　the　contact　conditions　between　the　different　parts　of　the　SPR　joint,　the　lap　shear　processes　of　these　SPR　joints　are　simulated.　It　can　be　seen　from　the　simulating　results　that　the　failure　modes　of　the　similar　and　dissimilar　materials　SPR　joints　are　different:　for　the　steel-steel　similar　material　SPR　joint,　the　rivet　is　pulled　out　from　the　joint　while　the　failure　occurs　in　the　base　metal　for　steel-Al　dissimilar　materials　SPR　joint.　Finally,　experiments　of　SPR　joint＇s　lap　shear　process　are　carried　out　to　validate　the　simulating　results.　It　is　shown　that　the　simulating　results　of　SPR　joint＇s　shear　strength　have　a　good　agreement　with　the　experimental　results.　That　suggests　the　developed　FE　model,　considering　the　contact　conditions　of　the　materials　and　the　joint＇s　shape,　can　be　used　to　predict　the　shear　strength　and　failure　mode　of　SPR　joint.