Abstract
An alternative form of calculation for superfi cial foundations is presented (respect to classical methods), based on the Finite Element Method and numerical methods for non-linear structural problems. A simple mathematic model for the simulation of soil behavior is used, based on the Mohr-Coulomb’s law of shear strength. A computer code was developed with these tools. This software is easy to use, and its results are visualized graphically. A couple of application examples are presented and of interest in the study of soil mechanics.