A blade assembly comprises a blade (120) and one or more wear pads (170, 172). The blade has an airfoil (122) having a leading edge (126), a trailing edge (128), a pressure side (130), a suction side (132), and extending from an inboard end to a tip (125). The blade further includes an attachment root (124). The one or more wear pads are along the attachment root. The one or more wear pads have a plurality of slits (228, 230 242).