Functional Element

A component assembly comprising a self-punching functional element, and a workpiece, the self-punching functional element comprising

• a head part forming a flange;
• and
• a punching section that extends away from the head part, and that has a peripheral punching edge,
• wherein the head part has a contact surface for contact with the workpiece, said contact surface at least sectionally surrounding the punching section at a radial outer side, and a boundary section that at least sectionally bounds the contact surface at the radial outer side and that extends away from the contact surface in the same direction as the punching section;
• and
• wherein an inner wall of the boundary section facing the punching section and an outer wall of the punching section facing the boundary section are arranged at least sectionally obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the functional element so that the inner wall and the outer wall each form an undercut in at least one plane including the longitudinal axis wherein the workpiece is at least partly urged into a ring space, which is formed by the inner wall, the contact surface and the outer wall, and into the undercut in a region around a hole punched out by the punching section so that the functional element is connected in a form-fitted manner to the workpiece.