The　effect　of　sheet　combination　modes　on　the　stress　and　deformation　of　aluminum/steel　dissimilar　metal　sheets　in　self-piercing　riveting　(SPR)　was　investigated　with　the　numerical　simulation　and　experiment.　The　properties　of　the　riveting　joints　were　evaluated　by　tensile-shear　tests.　The　results　show　that　failure　tends　to　occur　in　the　position　of　the　rivet　tail　and　the　area　contacting　to　rivet　tail　in　the　lower　sheet,　where　the　stress　and　strain　are　relatively　large.　In　the　order　of　sheet　placement,　the　thicker　sheet　should　be　used　as　the　lower　sheet　to　achieve　better　geometric　characteristic　parameters,the　geometric　characteristic　parameters　of　the　joints　formed　by　the　numerical　simulation　and　experiment　are　almolst　the　same.　It　is　feasible　for　the　geometric　characteristic　parameters　to　be　used　to　evaluate　the　performance　of　the　self-piercing　riveting　joint.　The　self-locking　strength　of　joints　has　positive　correlation　with　the　undercut　width　and　remaining　thickness　of　bottom.　The　larger　the　undercut　width　and　remaining　thickness　of　bottom　of　joints　are,　the　higher　the　self-locking　strength　is.　The　tensile-shear　properties　of　joints　can　be　improved　by　increasing　the　thickness　of　sheet　metal　properly　under　the　a　high　enough　self-locking　strength.　©　2019,　Editorial　Board　of　Journal　of　Plasticity　Engineering.　All　right　reserved.