The applicability of superconducting tapes is evaluated employing the definition of an irreversibility strainϵirr, attained at a criticalcurrent density Jc of 98% of its initial value. Before reaching this limit, theJc decreases slowly. In order to determine the microstructural changes responsible for thisbehaviour, we investigated the mechanical response of 19-filament BSSCCO-Agtapes with different ceramic microstructures, when bent without exceedingϵirr. After chemically removing a rectangular-shaped area of the silver sheath to expose theceramic filaments, the samples were subjected to three-point bending inside an SEMchamber. Thus, we were able to follow the microstructural changes produced by theformation and propagation of cracks at the same time that we recorded on a PC the forceversus deflection curves. We identified three different regions representing the response ofthe tapes to increasing bending. After the elastic region, the pre-existing microstructuralfaults determined the plastic behaviour. At higher deflections, we measured several stressdrops coincident with the observation of micro-cracks that grew slowly across the filaments.Twin samples were employed to control the critical current density decay as a function ofthe bending deflection introduced at ambient temperature. We investigated thecorrelation between the bending induced defects and the critical current degradation.