A　composite　tape-spring　(CTS)　structure　is　a　thin-walled　open　slit　tube　with　fibres　oriented　at　±45°,　which　is　stable　in　both　extended　and　coiled　configurations.　The　governing　factors　of　its　bistability　include　composite　constitutive　behaviour,　initial　geometrical　proportions,　and　geometrically　non-linear　structural　behaviour.　Its　bistable　principle　can　be　employed　to　produce　a　flexible　multistable　hinge　structure　with　tailorable　stability.　This　is　achieved　by　introducing　variable　stiffness　design　within　a　cylindrical　shell　structure,　where　folding　stability　is　dependent　on　central　functional　patch　region,　and　then　connected　to　linking　ploy　regions.　Thus,　a　novel　multistable　composite　hinge　structure　can　be　designed　with　positive　Gaussian　curvature　deformation,　and　its　multistability　is　highly　tailorable:　a　lengthy　one-dimensional　mechanical　arm　can　be　designed　to　coil　and　fold　multiple　times　to　enable　large　folding　ratio.　An　analytical　model　was　established　based　on　the　strain　energy　principle,　in　order　to　determine　effects　from　functional　tape　length;　the　typical　structural　stability　and　stable　configurations　were　then　predicted　with　respect　to　regional　length　of　the　functional　layer.　It　is　found　that　the　stability　of　a　multistable　composite　hinge　structure　is　dependent　on　geometry　and　combination　of　both　the　functional　patch　region,　and　connecting　ploy　region;　the　stable　criteria　are　then　proposed　and　show　good　agreement　with　experimental　observations　and　FE　analysis.　These　enrich　the　diversities　of　functional　deployable　structures　to　benefit　novel　requirements　for　various　deployable　mechanisms,　and　enable　customised　design,　as　well　as　smart　driving　for　flexible　and　multifunctional　mechanical　composite　hinge　applications.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd