Method of joining steel work-pieces having different gauge ratios

A method of joining a multiple member work-piece, the method comprising:

• providing a steel first work-piece having a first thickness;
• providing a steel second work-piece having a second thickness, the first thickness being at least twice the second thickness;
• piercing a rivet into the second work-piece to create a bulge in the steel second work-piece that is extended from the second workpiece at a faying interface between the first and second work-pieces;
• compressing the steel first work-piece and the rivet onto the steel second work-piece, wherein the bulge creates a gap between the steel first work-piece and the steel second work-piece;
• and
• resistance welding the first and second work-pieces and the rivet together to form a weld nugget within the gap at the faying interface.