A first-order asymptotic analysis of the Griffith energy balance in the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts model of adhesive contact under non-symmetric perturbation of the contact geometry is presented. The pull-off force is evaluated in explicit form. A particular case of adhesive contact between a relatively stiff sphere and an elastic half-space is considered under the assumption that the sphere geometry is changed by the application of an arbitrary lateral normal surface loading. The effect of the sphere Poisson's ratio on controlling the adhesive pull-off force is considered. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'A cracking approach to inventing new tough materials: fracture stranger than friction'.
Keywords: Johnson–Kendall–Roberts model; adhesion; first-order perturbation; nearly circular contact; pull-off force.