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In slope stability, an important factor to be considered is the presence of tension crack. Over the years, stability has been analyzed using the limit equilibrium analytical method and more recently with the use of numerical methods. In previous investigations, the location and/or the depth of the crack were previously set. In this investigation, using the finite element method, the behavior of the failure surface in soils was simulated, the properties of the materials were established, the geometric conditions (inclination and height of the slope) were assigned, evaluating their influence on the deformation by shear, in order to visualize the appearance of the fracture surface formed by the tensile crack, and in this way its location and depth were determined. It was shown that as the geometric conditions increase, the depth of the crack increases, the location distance decreases, as does the safety factor. Finally, it is concluded that tensile cracks occur in the case of the fine soils studied, that the geometric conditions are decisive in the location and depth of the tensile crack, as well as in the stability of the slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]