Rotary hinges are temporary joints connecting arch ribs with the abutments of rigid frame arch bridges during the vertically downward rotating construction process.We probed the mechanical properties of a rotary hinge.Its stress distribution was simulated in contact FEM during the vertically downward rotating construction of a rigid frame arch bridge.The results show that nearly the entire structure of the rotary hinge is in a low-stress state with only a minor area in a high-stress state.By strengthening some local structures,rotary hinge construction security could be satisfied by its mechanical properties during vertically downward rotating construction.