Transition from static to kinetic friction: Insights from a 2D model
  We describe a 2D spring-block model for the transition from static to kinetic friction at an elastic slider/rigid substrate interface obeying a minimalistic friction law (Amontons-Coulomb). By using realistic boundary conditions, a number of previously unexplained experimental results on precursory micro-slip fronts are successfully reproduced. From the analysis of the interfacial stresses, we derive a prediction for the evolution of the precursor length as a function of the applied loads, as well as an approximate relationship between microscopic and macroscopic friction coefficients. We show that the stress build-up due to both elastic loading and micro-slip-related relaxations depend only weakly on the underlying shear crack propagation dynamics. Conversely, crack speed depends strongly on both the instantaneous stresses and the friction coefficients, through a non-trivial scaling parameter. 
J{\o}rgen Tr{\o}mborg (PGP), Julien Scheibert (PGP, LTDS), David   Sk{\aa}lid Amundsen (PGP), Kjetil Th{\o}gersen (PGP), And...
physics.class-ph cond-mat.soft