Abstract: Cold joining technology is a green,new and efficient mechanical joining technology for effective joining of light alloys,which has great application prospects in automotive and aerospace fields.A comparative study on the mechanical properties and failure mechanism of several typical cold joining joints was carried out. The lap shear test was carried out for each group of joints prepared by using three processes:self-pierce riveting,pulling riveting and clinching,and the effects of different lap joining processes and different lap materials on the failure form and mechanical properties of the joints were investigated,and applicability of the three connection methods was analyzed. The results show that self-punching riveting,pulling riveting connection and clinching connection can achieve effective connection of 5A06 aluminum alloy and TA1 titanium alloy,among which the self-pierce riveting has the strongest mechanical properties and energy absorption,the pulling riveting joint is the second and the clinching joint is worst. The mechanical properties of TA1-TA1 joints are all higher than those of 5A06-5A06 joints;changing the connection methods and connection materials can effectively improve the joint.The main reason for the failure of the joints is the destruction of the mechanical interlocking structure of the joints.