JOEBOB,
If I understand your question.
In the heavy equipment (Earth moving equipment) we made lots of repairs on frames and the 1st rule was never weld cross ways to the load. If its a crack in the web you use a Diamond shaped Fish Plate over it like a Band aid. Make the Fish plate large and the angles long enough to distribute the the load.
Never weld across the flange but along the Lip. If you can, Box it in to distribute the load.
The Iron workers I have worked with say the same applys to Stuctural beams, the difference being in the material and the heat treatment.
If you weld straight across you weaken it and create undue stresses in the wrong direction, plus a HAZ.