What is one of the primary benefits of draping woven roving over a mold?

Draping woven roving over a mold is especially beneficial because it ensures a tighter fit to complex shapes. This technique allows the flexible fabric of the woven roving to conform closely to the contours of the mold surface, which is crucial for achieving high-quality parts. A tight fit helps prevent air pockets and uneven coverage of resin, ultimately leading to a stronger and more uniform laminate. This conformance is essential when working with intricate designs or structures, as it maximizes the effectiveness of the composite material being laid up and enhances adhesion between layers.

While increasing the surface area exposed to the resin may be advantageous for resin penetration, it's not the primary benefit of the draping process. Decorative patterns can be an outcome of the layup process but do not pertain to the functional aspects of draping woven roving. Lastly, weight reduction is more closely associated with the type of materials used and specific design choices rather than the draping technique itself. Therefore, ensuring a tighter fit to the mold is the key reason for employing this method in composite fabrication.