What is an important consideration for maintaining stable sides of a hole dug for sand cone testing?

Maintaining stable sides of a hole dug for sand cone testing is critical to ensure accurate test results. Sufficient cohesion in the soil is vital because it helps prevent the walls of the hole from collapsing during the testing process. Cohesive soils have the ability to stick together, providing the necessary strength to resist gravitational forces that can lead to failure or cave-ins.

If the soil lacks cohesion, it can be prone to crumbling and collapsing, which would not only damage the hole but could also lead to inaccuracies in filling the hole with sand for the test. Cohesive soils provide a more stable structure, allowing for more reliable data to be gathered during the testing process.

Other considerations, such as the depth and width of the hole, the softness of the soil, and moisture content, while relevant in other contexts, do not directly address the stability of the hole's sides as effectively as cohesion does.