Method for joining at least two structural parts

A method for joining at least two components, comprising:

• providing an auxiliary joining element having a hollow shaft and a head;
• in a setting step driving the shaft of the auxiliary joining element into a first component so as to maintain a residual material thickness of the first component;
• and in a joining step materially bonding the head of the auxiliary joining element with a second component, wherein the head of the auxiliary joining element at a topside thereof has an at least partially upward bulged dome-shaped material thickening extending over a planar parallel circumferential ring shoulder spaced apart from an outer rim of the head, wherein at an element base of the auxiliary joining element which faces away from the head, the auxiliary joining element has a ring contour which is adapted for placement on the first component so as to form a ring shaped contact zone for preparation of the setting step, said ring contour configured as an annular circumferential acute-angle contact edge, said annular circumferential acute-angle contact edge being radially inwardly offset from an outer wall of the hollow shaft and defining an opening of a hollow dome shaped space of the hollow shaft.