The　stability　and　bifurcation　of　a　flexible　rod-fastening　rotor　bearing　system　with　a　transverse　open　crack　in　a　fastening　rod　are　investigated.　The　nonlinear　dynamic　model　of　a　cracked　rod-fastening　rotor　system　is　established　based　on　the　finite　element　method.　A　methodology　is　introduced　where　shooting　method,　path-following　technique,　and　Floquet　theory　are　combined　for　determining　the　periodic　solutions　and　stability　margins　of　the　system.　The　effects　of　crack　depth　and　mass　eccentricities　on　the　system　are　studied　by　numerical　simulations.　Results　show　the　system　stability　will　reduce　due　to　the　presence　of　crack,　two　saddlebacks　occur　on　the　periodic-doubling　borderline　whose　bottom　location　corresponds　to　the　two　resonant　peak　of　bearing　node,　and　effects　of　the　crack　and　mass　eccentricity　play　a　dominant　position　in　different　conditions　respectively.　Comparisons　between　the　cracked　rotor　system　and　the　intact　ones　referred　in　the　literature　indicate　that　some　special　characteristics　of　cracked　rod-fastening　rotor　system　in　motion　orbits　and　frequency　components　can　be　used　to　detect　the　presence　of　crack　and　its　depth.　©　2018　Noureddine　Chikh,　et　al.