Summary Report of the 33rd IAHR Symposium on Hydraulic Machinery and Systems (SHMS 2026)
33rd IAHR Symposium on Hydraulic Machinery and Systems
Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil | 15–18 September 2026
Chair: Prof. Dr. Ramiro G. Ramirez Camacho (IEM/UNIFEI) | Co-Chair: Prof. Dr. Geraldo Lúcio Tiago Filho (IRN/UNIFEI)
Website Technical Committee Proceedings
Executive Summary
The 33rd IAHR Symposium on Hydraulic Machinery and Systems (SHMS 2026) brought together 204 participants from 24 countries at Itaipu Parquetec, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, from 15 to 18 September 2026. The symposium received 180 abstracts and 140 full papers; 128 papers were accepted, of which 120 will be published open-access in the proceedings in the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science.
Organised by the Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI) under the auspices of the IAHR Technical Committee on Hydraulic Machinery and Systems, the symposium was sponsored by ITAIPU Binacional and Brazil's National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), with operational support from Itaipu Parquetec and the Federal University for Latin American Integration (UNILA). As recent editions were held in Europe and Asia, hosting the event in Brazil significantly broadened participation from Latin America and reinforced IAHR’s regional footprint.
Scope & Scientific Topics
The technical programme encompassed 11 thematic areas covering theoretical, experimental, and numerical advances in hydraulic machinery and hydropower engineering:
Hydraulic turbines: Francis, Pelton, Kaplan, bulb, and micro-turbines.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD): 1D–3D coupling and inverse design methods.
Transient phenomena: Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI), vibration, and fatigue loading.
Pump-turbines & Energy Storage: Variable-speed units and pumped storage hydropower (PSH).
Cavitation & Multiphase Flow: Air injection and vortex breakdown mitigation.
Sediment erosion: Wear monitoring and advanced protective coatings.
Condition monitoring: Diagnostics and machine learning applied to plant operation.
Sustainable hydropower: Energy transition, hybrid systems with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and hydrokinetic energy.
Programme Overview
Day 1 (15 Sep 2026): Participant registration; Opening Ceremony; Keynote Lectures and Itaipu Binacional institutional presentation; parallel technical sessions across 3 halls; IAHR Technical Committee meeting followed by the official committee dinner.
Day 2 (16 Sep 2026): Parallel technical sessions; BRICS international project meetings; formal signing of the UNIFEI–Tsinghua University cooperation agreement,
Day 3 (17 Sep 2026): Specialized Short Course on vibration analysis and predictive maintenance (08:00–12:00); parallel technical sessions.
Day 4 (18 Sep 2026): Technical guided visits to the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant (morning & afternoon groups); Closing Ceremony and Gala Dinner with a folklore show at Rafain Churrascaria Show.
Keynote Lectures & Specialized Short Course
Keynote Presentations
Prof. Dr. Stefan Riedelbauch (Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machinery, Universität Stuttgart, Germany):
"Advanced Design Optimization of Hydraulic Machinery for Enhanced Performance and Durability".Prof. Dr. François Avellan (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne - EPFL, Switzerland):
"Benefits of turbine, storage pump and pump-turbine scale model tests for the operation of hydroelectric units".Eng. Filipe Diniz Dal Moro Borges (Itaipu Binacional):
Institutional Presentation: "Vibration and Pressure Condition Monitoring System (CMS)".
Specialized Short Course
On 17 September, Prof. Dr. Júlio César Silva de Souza (UNIFEI) delivered the short course "Vibration Analysis and Predictive Maintenance in Hydraulic Machinery: From vibration signal to fault diagnosis", including hands-on experimental practice using a dedicated Pelton turbine test bench
Symposium Statistics & Metrics
Key Performance Indicators
| Indicator | 33rd SHMS Foz do Iguaçu 2026 Details |
|---|---|
| Host Institution | Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI) |
| Format | In-person (Itaipu Parquetec, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil) |
| Abstracts Received | 180 (10 rejected) |
| Full Papers Received | 140 |
| Papers Rejected / Withdrawn | 12 |
| Papers Accepted | 128 |
| Papers to be Published in IOP Conf. Series: EES | 120 |
| Papers Presented (Total) | 124 (101 external, 12 UNIFEI, 1 UNILA, 2 Itaipu Parquetec, 8 without publication) |
| Parallel Technical Rooms | 3 (César Lattes, Florestan 1, Florestan 3) |
| Total Confirmed Participants | 204 delegates |
| Participating Countries | 24 countries |
Participation by Country (204 Participants across 24 Countries)
| Country | Participants | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Host) | 64 | 31.4% |
| China | 19 | 9.3% |
| Switzerland | 14 | 6.9% |
| Japan | 12 | 5.9% |
| Canada | 11 | 5.4% |
| Paraguay | 11 | 5.4% |
| Germany | 10 | 4.9% |
| Spain | 8 | 3.9% |
| Peru | 8 | 3.9% |
| Argentina | 7 | 3.4% |
| Uruguay | 6 | 2.9% |
| Sweden | 6 | 2.9% |
| Austria, Norway | 4 each | 2.0% each |
| France, Czech Republic, Ecuador | 3 each | 1.5% each |
| United States, Italy, Romania, South Korea | 2 each | 1.0% each |
| Bolivia, Mexico, United Kingdom | 1 each | 0.5% each |
International Cooperation & Committee Decisions
UNIFEI–Tsinghua University Agreement: On 16 September, within the framework of the CNPq-supported BRICS initiative, a formal bilateral cooperation agreement was signed between the Virtual Hydrodynamics Laboratory (LHV) of IEM/UNIFEI and the Department of Energy and Power Engineering of Tsinghua University (Beijing, China)
IAHR Technical Committee Meeting: Chaired by Prof. Stefan Riedelbauch on 15 September, the committee audited operational reports, publication metrics, and strategic goals for hydraulic machinery research.
Latin Hidro 2027 Confirmed: Planning sessions finalized the VI Latin American Hydropower and Systems Meeting (Latin Hidro 2027) to be hosted by UMSA in La Paz, Bolivia.
34th IAHR Symposium (Nepal 2028): The committee formally awarded the 34th IAHR Symposium on Hydraulic Machinery and Systems to Nepal, to be chaired by Prof. Dr. Hari Neopane in 2028.
Women in Science & Engineering
A primary highlight of SHMS 2026 was the strong leadership and active participation of women across engineering research, institutional direction, and operations. Key leaders included Prof. Silmara Baldissera Kabayama (Director of IEM/UNIFEI) and Prof. Diana Araújo Pereira (Rector of UNILA), alongside researchers and graduate students who chaired technical sessions and delivered key research findings.
Technical Visits & Closing Ceremony
Delegates conducted technical field visits to the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant—one of the world's largest clean energy facilities—and Itaipu Parquetec. The symposium concluded on 18 September with a Gala Dinner at Rafain Churrascaria Show. In accordance with long-standing symposium tradition, the event was officially declared closed using the ceremonial Pelton hammer, followed by a final group assembly.
Organising Committee
Prof. Dr. Ramiro G. Ramirez Camacho (Chair – IEM/UNIFEI, Brazil)
Prof. Dr. Geraldo Lúcio Tiago Filho (Co-Chair – IRN/UNIFEI, Brazil)
Edna Raimunda da Silva (UNIFEI, Brazil)
Lucia Del Rosario Garrido (UNIFEI, Brazil)
Letícia de Oliveira Silva Della Colletta (UNIFEI, Brazil)
Marcelo Daige Prado Leite (UNIFEI, Brazil)
Gislene Clélia da Silva (UNINTER, Brazil)
Gustavo Adolfo Ronceros Rivas (UNILA, Brazil)
Júlio César Silva de Souza (UNIFEI, Brazil)
Celso Antônio Bittencourt Sales Junior (UNIFEI, Brazil)
Pâmela Badessa Maia (UNIFEI, Brazil)
Acknowledgements & Institutional Support
The Organising Committee expresses sincere appreciation to all delegates, peer reviewers, and supporting entities:
Coordinating Body: International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR)
Host University: Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI)
Sponsors: ITAIPU Binacional and CNPq
Institutional Support: Itaipu Parquetec, UNILA, and Visit Iguassu
Photography & Press: Kiko Sierich / Imprensa Itaipu Parquetec & Rodrigo Ramirez
Contact Secretariat: iahr2026@unifei.edu.br
Related