The　bistable　composite　tape-spring　(CTS)　structure　has　received　increasing　interest　in　industrial　applications,　especially　in　aerospace　engineering.　Its　ability　to　fold　under　large　displacements　makes　it　attractive　as　a　hinge-safety　assembly,　with　reduced　weight,　complexity　and　maintenance　compared　to　the　conventional　lock-link　connections.　The　shape　of　a　CTS　during　folding　has　been　studied;　but　research　on　its　folded　strain　levels　is　limited.　We　devise　a　novel　method　to　evaluate　the　strain　evolution　in　a　folded　CTS.　This　is　achieved　by　embedding　strain　gauges　in　a　CTS　sample　before　‘‘rolling’’　the　fold　through　them　at　constant　fold　angle:　the　rolling　shape　thus　provides　an　exact　profile　of　the　strain　along　the　CTS　centreline.　The　strain　has　maximum　levels　at　the　centre　of　the　folded　CTS,　as　expected,　whilst　a　new　shoulder-like　local　peak　feature　is　observed.　A　finite　element　(FE)　analysis　is　performed　to　reveal　expected　levels　of　strain:　the　experimental　strain　profile　is　then　compared　to　reveal　fundamental　correlations.　Further　insight　therefore　can　be　drawn　from　the　FE　model,　which　is　beneficial　in　maintaining　structural　integrity,　and　ensure　the　composite　is　not　over-confined　and　liable　to　damage　during　and　after　folding.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd