In one aspect, a method for assembling a rotor assembly is provided. The method comprises providing a rotor blade including a first sidewall, a second sidewall, where the first and second sidewalls are connected at a leading edge and a trailing edge and extend in span from a root portion to a tip portion, removing blade material from the tip portion to form a tip portion rake angle that enables the tip portion to extend obliquely between the first and second sidewalls, and coupling the rotor blade to a shaft such that during tip rubs the tip portion rake angle facilitates reducing radial loading induced to the blade during tip rubs.