Slip pulses at a sheared frictional viscoelastic/nondeformable interface

We study the possibility for a semi-infinite block of linear viscoelastic material, in homogeneous frictional contact with a nondeformable one, to slide under shear via a periodic set of "self-healing pulses," i.e., a set of drifting slip regions separated by stick ones. We show that, contrary to existing experimental indications, such a mode of frictional sliding is impossible for an interface obeying a simple local Coulomb law of solid friction. We then discuss possible physical improvements of the friction model which might open the possibility of such dynamics, among which slip weakening of the friction coefficient, and stress the interest of developing systematic experimental investigations of this question.