Molecular dynamics simulations are employed to study indentation/scratching tests on the mechanical properties of Cu64Zr36/Cu amorphous/crystalline nanolaminates. The formation of narrow shear bands is the major cause of plastic deformation in the single indentation. In cyclic indentation, the deformation behavior has no significant difference with the various number of cycles. The cyclic load and hardness increase as rising the cyclic number. The hysteresis loop appears and is wider with increasing loading/reloading steps. In the scratching test, the shear deformation process occurs in the shear plane. The forces increase rapidly in the first stage; then the normal forces increase gradually, the tangential forces fluctuate horizontally. The friction coefficient increases higher with the increasing cutting depth; its value oscillates from 1.0 to 1.21. The figure is shown the local stress distribution (a), the atomic configuration (b and c), and the temperature (d) of Cu64Zr36/Cu A/C nanolaminates under different processes. Display omitted •The shear bands do not appear in the crystalline layers too thin.•The thicker crystalline layers effectively prevent the spread of stress and strain.•The friction between the indenter and substrate also induces a local heat gain.•The hysteresis loop appears and is wider as increasing unloading/reloading steps.•The shear deformation process occurs in the shear plane during the scratching test.