counter pressure

[eculver]

I have a 26'x30' cinder block foundation garage built on a grade. The back corner has about 3 1/2' of gravel fill under the slab, and the front maybe has 6". Fill dirt was added in the back to build up the earth about halfway up the wall to give it some counter pressure.
I was going to be getting a couple loads of fill delivered soon to fill some eroded areas of my yard and was contemplating adding more fill in the back of the garage to make the earth even with the bottom of the slab. This would probably be 18" more fill on top of the existing.
This seems like it would be a good idea to provide even more counter pressure from vehicle loading an the weight of the gravel, but I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't be causing any issues with stress on the wall from the earth.
I'm probably over thinking.

 

[oldestguy]

Sounds OK to me. As you describe it, apparently that section of the walls are OK. I assume the wall above the slab elevation also is block, right? That weight may be what is saving you from having it lean outward. Without some upper wall weight on that lower wall it would have moved outward already in many cases like this. I would have filled both sides simultaneously.

Since you apparently are not having wall settling because of poor support below the footing,then the added weight outside probably won't cause any trouble. If, on the other hand, you are on rather soft original ground, that adding of fill would also cause the wall to settle. But apparently that is not the case.

Go for it.

Vehicle weight inside provides some lateral load on the lower wall, but that gravel inside is more likely the greatest lateral load factor.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Most building codes demand a minimum of 8'' from bottom of wall (wood) or top of slab to grade and sloped away from the house.

Just don't forget.

 

[eculver]

Yes, the block wall continues above the slab 20", and there has been some settling, but it is minor. I noticed one wall has detached from the slab slightly and is very slightly off level, which makes me think it has started to move outward so I think any additional settlement from the weight of the soil would be worth preventing the wall from moving out more.