The　paper　presents　an　experimental　investigation　on　the　tensile　behavior　and　strength　of　self-piercing　rivet　(SPR)　connections　used　in　cold-formed　thin-walled　steel　structures.　The　sheet　thickness　ratio,　the　sheet　combination　type,　and　the　rivet　length　were　analyzed　for　their　effects　on　the　tensile　performance　of　SPR　connections.　The　research　also　studied　the　feasibility　of　the　existing　calculation　method　of　SPR　connections　and　the　other　design　methods　of　self-tapping　screw　connections　for　the　SPRs　investigated　herein.　Based　on　the　test　results　and　analyses,　a　new　design　method　for　the　tensile　capacity　was　proposed.　The　test　results　showed　that　the　sheet　thickness　ratio,　the　sheet　combination　type,　and　the　rivet　length　were　the　key　factors　controlling　the　failure　mode　and　the　tensile　capacity　of　SPR　connections.　The　proposed　design　method　for　the　tensile　capacity　of　SPR　connections　considers　those　primary　factors　as　well　as　the　different　failure　modes.　(C)　2018　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.