The bolted joints of angle steel transmission towers experience relative sliding under load, known as bolt slippage. Many studies on the load carrying capacity of transmission towers overlook the boltslippage effect, resulting in inaccurate load carrying capacity analyses. To accurately assess the load carrying capacity of transmission towers, we established two finite element models: one considering bolt slippage and the other ideal rigid frame tower model without considering bolt slippage. We calculated the distribution and stress changes of failure members under static wind load and longitudinal imbalance tension caused by inhomogeneous ice cover and broken lines for both models in different settling modes and amounts. The differences in the bearing capacities of the two models are compared and analyzed based on their ultimate damage patterns. Additionally, the influences of bolt slippage and foundation settlement on the models are examined. This study indicates that bolt slippage has a more significant impact on the deformation of a transmission tower. The tower top displacement of the transmission tower model, when considering bolt slippage, can reach up to 4.05 times that of the ideal rigid frame tower model. This, in turn, affects the damage pattern of the bars. Ignoring the bolt-slippage effect when settling occurs results in an underestimation of the change in the load-bearing capacity of the tower-line system. As the amount of settlement increases, the boltslippage effect causes the load-bearing capacity of the tower-line system to decrease at a slower rate. To accurately calculate the load carrying capacity of a tower-line system, it is necessary to consider the boltslippage effect.INDEX TERMS Bolt slippage, foundation settlement, transmission tower.