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The static elastic behaviour of a slant or helicoidal cracked shaft hasbeen analysed by means of a 3D non-linear model, calculating deflections in differentload conditions. This kind of crack can develop in rotating shafts loaded by hugetorsion and bending loads. The results are compared to those of the more commontransverse planar crack. The peculiarity of the behaviour of shafts affected by slightlyhelicoidal cracks, which are reflected also in the dynamical behaviour of rotatingcracked shafts, is emphasized .