I am working in metal forming processes. From literature, it is identified that mostly during simulations of metal forming processes isotropic hardening laws are used, however, the sheet metal has anisotropy nature like aluminum, copper, etc.
You question is a valid one.However,when one deals with analytical descriptoon of solid matters, continium mechanics has to be the outline guide with the following assumptions:
1-solid matters have to be a homogeneus structured material, free of any crystallographic defects.,i.e., dislocations,and so on.
2-The mass and energy of solid matters have to comply with the constitutional conservation laws of mass and energy.
Consequently, one has to assume that the solid matter is isotropic.