Prof. Athanasopoulos-Zekkos' research focuses on two major thrusts that are interconnected. The first thrust is in the field of geotechnical earthquake engineering and soil dynamics. It aims to provide new methodologies, both analytical and experimental, that can provide new insights and lead to new analytical and design approaches on soil dynamics problems. Examples of this thrust are the soil liquefaction hazard assessment, and the use of, new, largely unexploited materials (EPS, Engineering Cementitious Composite, ECC) to solve challenging problems under dynamic loading conditions, coupled with innovative techniques to model (discrete and finite element) and measure (in the field and the laboratory) the dynamic response of soils and structures. A second thrust of her research aims to improve resiliency of flood protection systems and soil structures under extreme loading like hurricanes and earthquakes by using the latest technologies and methodologies to design, monitor and reinforce them.
She is also interested in studying the seismic response of retaining structures, ground motion propagation characteristics due to pile-driving activities, and the impact of ground motion selection for dynamic analyses.