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A simple method for evaluating the mechanical behavior of coated systems is the scratch test, which allows the analysis of the adhesion strength and the failure modes generated during contact. In this test should be considered parameters and properties as indenter geometry, loading rate, sliding rate and the system properties as hardness, fracture toughness, microstructure, surface roughness, coating thickness, residual stresses, among others. This paper analyzed via finite element, the longitudinal stresses (Sxx) obtained during the computational simulation of scratch test, where was considered the effect of coating thickness, which was considered as 2 μm and 4 μm, and the surface and interface roughness Ra 0,16 μm and 0,35 μm. The results suggest that thicker coatings, favoring the load carrying capacity, also demonstrated the importance of roughness of the system in the computer simulation. The increased roughness in the system increases the possibility of cracking of the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]