Strengthening in metals is traditionally achieved through the controlled creation of various grain boundaries(GBs),such as low-angle GBs,high-angle GBs,and twin boundaries(TBs).In the present study,a series of large-scale molecular dynamics simulations with spherical nanoindentation and carefully designed model were conducted to investigate and compare the strengthening effects of various GBs with nano-spacing as barriers of dislocation motion.Simulation results showed that high-angle twist GBs and TBs are similar barriers and low-angle twist GBs are less effective in obstructing dislocation motion.Corresponding atomistic mechanisms were also given.At a certain indentation depth,dislocation transmission and dislocation nucleation from the other side of boundaries were observed for low-angle twist GBs,whereas dislocations were completely blocked by high-angle twist GBs and TBs at the same indentation depth.The current findings should provide insights for comprehensive understanding of the strengthening effects of various GBs at nanoscale. Strengthening in metals is traditionally achieved through the controlled creation of various grain boundaries (GBs), such as low-angle GBs, high-angle GBs, and twin boundaries (TBs) .In the present study, a series of large-scale molecular dynamics simulations with spherical nanoindentation and carefully designed model were conducted to investigate and compare the strengthening effects of various GBs with nano-spacing as barriers of dislocation motion. Simulation results showed that high-angle twist GBs and TBs are similar barriers and low-angle twist GBs are less effective in obstructing dislocation motion. Resolution of atomistic mechanisms were also given. At certain indentation depth, dislocation transmission and dislocation nucleation from the other side of boundaries were observed for low-angle twist GBs, whereas dislocations were completely blocked by high-angle twist GBs and TBs at the same indentation depth. The current findings should provide insights for comprehensive understanding of t he strengthening effects of various GBs at nanoscale.