Scaling properties in the packing of crumpled wires

Statistical properties of configurations of a metallic wire injected into a transparent planar two-dimensional cavity for three different injection geometries are investigated with the aid of high-resolution digital imaging techniques. The observed patterns of folds are studied as a function of the packing fraction of the wire within the cavity. In particular, we have examined the dependence of the mass of wire within a circle of radius R, as well as the dependence of the number of contacts wire-wire with the packing fraction. The distribution function n(s) of connected loops with internal area s formed as a consequence of the folded structure of the wire, and the average coordination number for these loops are also examined. Several scaling laws connecting variables of physical interest are obtained and discussed and a relation of this problem with disordered two-dimensional foam and random packing of disks is examined.