The applicability of perturbation methods in the mechanics of adhesion is investigated. A review of the applications of the asymptotic method in the mechanics of plates is given first. It is then shown that asymptotic methods provide an accurate description of the micromechanical behaviour of both elastic and dissipative adhesively bonded joints, so that a contact law for a thin film which represents the adhesive is derived in each case. The modelling of the rupture behaviour of a joint is then considered and a simplified constitutive behaviour for two elastic adherents bonded by an elastoplastic adhesive submitted to damage is obtained. Numerical implementation of the model is described and it is seen that the simulation gives good agreement with traction forces recorded for a rigid cylindrical punch adhesively bonded to a rubber layer. Finally, perspectives of the method are mentioned.