We present a systematic approach to deal with the modeling and analysis of the cracked rotating shafts behaviour. We begin by revisiting the problem of modelling the breathing mechanism of the crack. Here we consider an original approach based on the form we give to the energy of the system and then identify the mechanism parameters using 3D computations with unilateral contact conditions on the crack lips. A dimensionless flexibility is identified which makes the application of the approach to similar problems straightforward. The additional flexibility due to the crack is then introduced in a simple and comprehensive dynamical system (2 DOF) to characterize the crack effects on the dynamical response of a rotating shaft. Many results could help in early crack detection.