Dihedral, Dihedral (Aircraft) Angle

Image: Dihedral

Dihedral:

The V-shaped bend in the wing. Typically, more dihedral causes more aerodynamic stability in an airplane, and causes the rudder to control both the roll and yaw axis. This is why some trainers and sailplanes require only 3 channels of radio control--i.e., having no ailerons.

Image: Dihedral Angle

Dihedral Angle

In the illustration above, A and B are two separate planes lying perpendicular to another plane C. The dihedral angle equals zero between planes A and B.

To demonstrate a dihedral angle greater than zero, first let aA and aB equal 90 degrees. Second, let plane B rotate around the line where plane B and C intersect while letting plane A remain perpendicular to C. For example, let aB (the angle where plane B intersects plane C) equal 60 degrees.

The dihedral angle (represented by the symbol J) between A and B now equals 30 degrees. This can also be viewed as the illustration below.

Dihedral (Aircraft)

Dihedral angle is the upward angle from horizontal of the wings or tailplane of a fixed-wing aircraft. "Anhedral angle" is the name given to negative dihedral angle, that is, when there is a downward angle from horizontal of the wings or tailplane of a fixed-wing aircraft.

 Schematic of dihedral and anhedral angle of an aircraft wing.

Dihedral angle (or anhedral angle) has a strong influence on dihedral effect, which is named after it. Dihedral effect is the amount of roll moment produced per degree (or radian) of sideslip. Dihedral effect is a critical factor in the stability of an aircraft about the roll axis (the spiral mode). It is also pertinent to the nature of an aircraft's Dutch roll oscillation and to maneuverability about the roll axis.

 Measuring the dihedral angle.

Longitudinal dihedral is a comparatively obscure term related to the pitch axis of an airplane. It is the angle between the zero lift axis of the wing and horizontal tail. Longitudinal dihedral can influence the nature of controllability about the pitch axis and the nature of an aircraft's phugoid-mode oscillation.

When the term "dihedral" (of an aircraft) is used by itself it is usually intended to mean "dihedral angle". However, context may otherwise indicate that "dihedral effect" is the intended meaning.

Image: Anhedral angle

Source: Wiki