Umbhobho wensimbi unecandelo elingenanto kwaye ubude bawo bukhulu kakhulu kunobubanzi okanye umjikelezo wentsimbi. Ngokwemilo yecandelo, ihlukaniswe kwiibhobho zetsimbi ezijikelezayo, zesikwere, ezixande kunye nezikhethekileyo; Ngokwemathiriyeli, yahlulwe kumbhobho wensimbi ye-carbon structural, umbhobho wensimbi ophantsi we-alloy, umbhobho wensimbi ye-alloy kunye nombhobho wensimbi odibeneyo.