The　paper　presents　an　experimental　investigation　on　the　shear　strength　of　self-piercing　rivet　connections　used　in　thin-walled　steel　structures.　The　test　program　included　specimen　variations　in　the　number　of　rivets　in　each　connection,　rivet　spacing,　end　distance,　and　steel　sheet　thickness.　According　to　the　experimental　results,　the　curve　of　load-slip,　peak　load,　and　failure　mechanism　for　all　specimens　were　analyzed.　Parameters　of　riveting　in　terms　of　end　distance,　spacing,　arrangement,　length,　and　thickness　difference　between　connection　components　were　studied　on　their　effects　for　shearing　performances　of　self-piercing　rivet　connections.　A　design　method　based　on　the　model　of　transmission　dynamics　of　infectious　diseases　was　proposed　for　calculating　the　shear　strength　of　the　rivet　connections.　The　strength　reduction　due　to　the　effect　of　group　rivets　was　considered　in　the　new　method.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.