In this paper, we present results deduced from three-dimensional finite element simulations of scratching, with spherical indenter geometry at different imposed ratios, a/R in the range of 0.1-0.9. For each simulated ratio a/R, the local friction has been increased from 0 to 1. The paper aims at studying the tangential scratch behaviour of homogeneous polymeric substrates, considered in first approximation as elastic linear-hardening plastic material. For only elasticplastic contacts, without any strain rate or temperature effects, it focuses on studying some characteristic response due to spherical scratching process as a function of scratching conditions (a/R, l loc ) such as the stress and plastic strain fields, including the plastic zone dimension and the definition of an volume average plastic strain.