Electromagnetic　riveting　is　a　riveting　technology　for　transforming　electromagnetic　energy　into　mechanical　energy.　By　traditional　induction　low　voltage　electromagnetic　riveting,　it　is　difficult　to　solve　the　problems　of　low　energy　efficiency,　and　riveting　of　high　strength　and　large　diameter　rivet　and　hard　forming　material　rivet.　Based　on　self-excited　electromagnetic　riveting　technology,　the　analysis　model　of　discharge　current　is　established.　The　feasibility　of　large　diameter　rivet　forming　is　investigated　by　numerical　analysis　and　process　experiment.　The　results　show　that　the　model　for　discharge　current　analysis　can　realize　the　discharge　current　analysis　of　traditional　induction　and　self-excited　electromagnetic　riveting.　The　analysis　results　are　in　good　agreement　with　those　of　the　experiment.　When　the　discharge　energy　is　the　same,　the　eddy　current　repulsion　peak　of　the　self-excited　electromagnetic　riveting　is　much　larger　than　that　of　the　induction.　The　self-excited　electromagnetic　riveting　can　effectively　improve　the　energy　utilization　rate,　and　is　the　effective　way　for　the　forming　of　large　diameter　rivets.　When　the　discharge　voltage　is　320　V,　self-excited　electromagnetic　riveting　can　deform　the　45　steel　rivet　with　10　mm　diameter,　and　the　rivet　deformation　is　carried　out　by　adiabatic　shearing.　©　2017,　Press　of　Chinese　Journal　of　Aeronautics.　All　right　reserved.