The deposition of Cu clusters (a few monolayers) on an Au(001) surface has been simulated by molecular dynamics. The bombardment energies were 0.25, 0.5 and 1 eV/atom. The growth effects for different cluster structures have been investigated. Cu and Au crystals have been chosen since they show a great misfit in their lattice parameters (12.8%). The behaviour of the atomic distances at the interface has been analysed and mean changes in the lattice parameters have been quantified. Pseudomorphic growth (gradual adaptation of the in-plane atomic distances) took place only in the bombardments with higher energy. The cluster lateral size has also influence for intermediate energies. A study of induced defects and atomic mixing at the interface has been also accomplished. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.