In　order　to　introduce　self-piercing　rivet　(SPR)　technique　to　component　connections　of　thin-walled　steel　structures,　78　SPR　joints　were　tested　to　evaluate　their　quality　and　the　shear　strength.　Parameters　included　in　this　test　program　were　the　sheet　thickness,　and　the　rivet.　Based　on　test　results,　the　research　developed　an　empirical　formula　between　the　combination　thicknesses　of　sheet　and　rivet　length,　and　proposed　quality　evaluation　standard　of　SPR　connections　and　a　new　design　method　of　shear　strength.　The　test　results　showed　that　sheet　thickness　and　sheet　thickness　ratio　had　a　great　effect　on　failure　mode,　and　rivet　length　was　a　key　factor　on　shear　properties　of　SPR　connections.　The　proposed　quality　evolution　standard　and　design　calculation　method　of　shear　strength　in　this　paper　had　certain　reasonability　and　reliability.