Aeolian　sand　serves　as　the　primary　filling　material　for　highway　and　railway　in　the　desert　area　of　Inner　Mongolia,　China.　Usually,　aeolian　sand　subgrade　is　stable　in　the　natural　state.　Nevertheless,　the　infiltration　caused　by　rainfall　events　disrupts　the　original　balance　within　the　subgrade.　The　hydraulic　properties　of　aeolian　sand　subgrade　change　substantially　in　a　short　period,　which　results　in　a　decrease　in　shear　strength　and　subsequent　deformation　or　landslide　of　the　subgrade.　Based　on　the　analysis　of　soil　properties　and　structural　characteristics　of　aeolian　sand　subgrade,　a　prediction　model　for　rainfall　infiltration　depth　considering　soil　properties　and　rainfall　levels　of　aeolian　sand　subgrade　was　proposed　based　on　the　linear　approach　of　soil　water　characteristic　curves　(SWCCs).　This　study　further　used　the　aforementioned　prediction　model　to　predict　the　infiltration　depth　of　aeolian　sand　with　three　different　dry　densities　under　an　extreme　rainfall　event　and　compared　it　with　numerical　simulation　results　to　verify　the　applicability　of　the　prediction　model.　This　study　can　provide　a　theoretical　basis　for　the　study　of　the　hydraulic　behavior　of　aeolian　sand　subgrade　soil.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Singapore　Pte　Ltd.　2024.