Abstract: In order to ensure the safety of wire rope operation, it is necessary to conduct periodic nondestructive testing of wire rope. Among the existing testing methods of steel wire rope, the electromagnetic testing method based on magnetic flux leakage principle is recognized as the most practical testing method. Maxwell 3D is adopted in this paper to simulate magnetic field signals, through adjusting the magnetic field intensity, magnetic distance and lift value, verifying the circular array detection method, finally conducting dynamic simulation on the magnetic flux leakage of steel wire rope, and recording the magnetic flux leakage signals in the whole process of movement. In the process of simulation, the appropriate test parameters are determined, so as to provide data reference for the design of the second generation of wire rope flaw detector.