  Description of the transitional process from a static to a dynamic frictional
regime is a fundamental problem of modern physics. Previously we developed a
model based on the well-known Frenkel-Kontorova model to describe dry
macroscopic friction. Here this model has been modified to include the effect
of dissipation in derived relations between the kinematic and dynamic
parameters of a transition process. The main (somewhat counterintuitive) result
is a demonstration that the rupture (i.e. detachment front) velocity of the
slip pulse which arises during the transition does not depend on friction. The
only parameter (besides the elastic and plastic properties of the medium)
controlling the rupture velocity is the shear to normal stress ratio. In
contrast to the rupture velocity, the slip velocity does depend on friction.
The model we have developed describes these processes over a wide range of
rupture and slip velocities (up to 7 orders of magnitude) allowing, in
particular, the consideration of seismic events ranging from regular
earthquakes, with rupture velocities on the order of a few km/s, to slow slip
events, with rupture velocities of a few km/day.
