Wind turbine blade specimen testing

An apparatus for testing a wind turbine blade specimen having a cable connection point, the apparatus comprising:

• a first support for holding a first end of the wind turbine blade specimen,
• a first actuator for applying a first load at a first location on the wind turbine blade specimen away from the first end,
• a load assembly including at least one cable for coupling to the cable connection point at a second location on the wind turbine blade specimen away from the first end,
• wherein the at least one cable is configured to carry a tensile load such that the load imparted to the wind turbine blade specimen by the first actuator is partially supported by the at least one cable.

A method of testing a wind turbine blade specimen comprising:

• providing a wind turbine blade specimen having a cable connection point;
• supporting a first end of the wind turbine blade specimen;
• connecting at least one cable to the cable connection point at a second location on the wind turbine blade specimen away from the first end;
• tensioning the at least one cable;
• using a first actuator to apply a first load at a first location on the wind turbine blade specimen away from the first end;
• using the at least one cable to carry a tensile load such that the load imparted to the wind turbine blade specimen by the first actuator is partially supported by the at least one cable;
• and
• measuring one or more parameters of the wind turbine blade specimen.