This　paper　presents　a　study　on　thermoplastic　single-lap　double　rivet　joints　(SLDJ)　with　and　without　adhesive　subjected　to　out-of-plane　projectile　impact　and　quasi-static　concentrated　loading.　The　three-dimensional　finite　element　(FE)　models　considering　strain-rate　effects　and　damage　evolution　were　developed　and　implemented　in　the　commercial　code　Abaqus/Explicit　through　a　user-defined　subroutine　VUMAT.　The　FE　models　were　validated　against　the　experimental　results,　in　terms　of　the　peak　load,　the　maximum　displacement　and　the　dissipated　energy.　It　was　found　that　there　were　three　stages　in　the　load-displacement　trace　up　to　the　failure,　i.e.　rivet　slip,　hole　failure　and　laminate　break　for　the　rivet　joint,　and　debonding,　rivet　slip　and　laminate　break　for　the　rivet　joint　with　adhesive.　The　rivet　joint　with　adhesive　has　a　higher　stiffness　before　debonding　occurs;　however,　its　out-of-plane　load　carrying　capacity　is　slightly　lower　than　the　rivet　only　counterpart.　The　validated　models　were　used　to　study　the　failure　mechanisms　of　SLDJ　through　the　progressive　failure　simulation,　and　further　to　investigate　the　effects　of　boundary　conditions,　ply　angle　and　impact　energy　on　the　impact　response　of　the　composite　joints.　The　laminates　with　45°　ply　could　be　used　to　enhance　the　impact　resistance　of　composite　joint　structures　with　the　reduced　damaged　area.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd